All-round India beat Sri Lanka
03/13/2012 06:04:32 PM
A stellar all-round performance with the bat and ball saw India seal a 50-run win over Sri Lanka in the second match of the Asia Cup in Dhaka on Tuesday.
After centurions Gautam Gambhir (100) and Virat Kohli (108) powered India to 304-3, pacer Irfan Pathan picked up four for 32 to dismiss Sri Lanka for 254 in 45.1 overs.
Chasing a mammoth 305, Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene meant business right from the start as he slammed a power-packed 78 off 59.
Irfan dealt the initial blows to dismiss Tillakaratne Dilshan (7) and later Jayawardene to keep the Indians in the game.
Dinesh Chandimal didn't do much damage as he was dismissed for a meager 13 while veteran Kumar Sangakkara held fort to score 65 off 87.
But it was spinner Ravichandran Ashwin's (3-39) double blow in the 36th over that truly dismantled the batting line up. He ousted Sangakkara and Lahiru Thirimanne (29) to leave SL reeling at 198-5 in 35.5 overs.
Pacer Vinay Kumar (3-55) too added to the Lankan batting woes to claim Nuwan Kulasekara (11) and Chamara Kapugedara (0) on consecutive deliveries to take India closer to victory.
Earlier in the day vice-captain Kohli and Gambhir's destructive 205-run stand for the second wicket set the game up.
Following the Delhi-duo's lead, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with an unbeaten 46, along with Suresh Raina (30) pitched in vital 78 runs to help set up an imposing challenge for the Lankans.
With Sri Lanka leaving Lasith Malinga out of the equation, the onus fell on Nuwan Kulasekara (0-67) and Farveez Maharoof (2-57) who never looked good enough to restrict the Indian batting charge.