Latest News

Tri-Series: Sehwag guides India to win over Sri Lanka

Virender Sehwag was unbeaten on 99 as India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third match of the One-Day International tri-series in Dambulla.

Having produced a creditable bowling performance to bowl the home side out for 170, India reached their target with more than 15 overs to spare to take their first win of the tri-series.

Their opening performance had seen them concede 288 against New Zealand and then themselves be dismissed for just 88 but their bowlers never allowed Sri Lanka’s batsmen to settle and top scorers for the hosts were opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 45, and Suraj Randiv, who battled hard to hit 43 before being the last man to fall in the 47th over.

India struck with the first ball of the match when Praveen Kumar had Upul Tharanga bowled and they hardly looked back, Ashish Nehra having Kumar Sangakkara caught by Pragyan Ojha for two, Ishant Sharma having Thilan Samaraweera caught by Ravi Jadeja for seven and Kumar trapping Mahela Jayawardene in front for four to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 44 for four.

Dilshan hit five fours before he became the first of Pragyan Ojha’s three wickets, offering a catch to Rohit Sharma and the left-arm spinner went on to have Lasith Malinga (5) stumped and Randiv finally caught by Suresh Raina.

He had faced 61 balls, hitting four fours to keep Sri Lanka’s score respectable, with Angelo Mathews (15), Chamara Kapugedera (10) and Nuwan Kulasekara (22) the only other players to reach double figures.

Ojha returned three for 36 with Kumar, Sharma and Jadeja all taking two wickets apiece.