DHAKA:
India’s Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir both cracked their 10th One-Day International (ODI) centuries to set up a comfortable 50-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup.
Man-of-the-match Kohli (108) and left-handed opener Gambhir (100) added 205 runs for the second wicket as India posted a challenging 304 for three before bowling Sri Lanka out for 254 in the day-night match.
Seamer Irfan Pathan was the pick of India’s bowlers with four wickets, while off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and paceman Vinay Kumar took three apiece.
Sri Lanka raced to 122 in the opening 18 overs, courtesy captain Mahela Jayawardene, who kept alive his team’s hopes of hunting down a stiff target with a brisk 59-ball 78. But they suffered a setback when Jayawardene was caught behind off Irfan in the 19th over. He added 93 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (65).
Sri Lanka’s chances then receded sharply after the dismissal of Sangakkara, caught at deep mid-wicket off Ashwin, who also trapped Lahiru Thirimanne (29) in the same over. Vinay removed Nuwan Kulasekara and Chamara Kapugedera off successive deliveries as Sri Lanka were reduced to 216 for seven, losing four wickets for 20 runs.
Jayawardene admitted that the batsmen did not convert their starts. “When you are chasing something like 300, the guys who get starts have to finish off,” said Jayawardene. “I thought we gave away 15 to 20 runs extra.
“We can take many positives out of this game since the new guys did well.”
India batsmen set up win
Earlier, Kohli top-scored for India with his second successive hundred against Sri Lanka, having made an unbeaten 133 at Hobart in the recent triangular series in Australia. India plundered 78 runs off the last 7.1 overs, with captain MS Dhoni smashing a 26-ball 46 not out and Suresh Raina an unbeaten 30 off just 17 balls.
India lost Sachin Tendulkar early before Gambhir and Kohli bolstered their team with their impressive knocks. Gambhir, dropped on 36, made the most of the chance and hit seven fours in his 118-ball knock, while Kohli also struck the same number of boundaries.
Dhoni was pleased with his side’s win. “It was difficult at that time when Jayawardene was batting well,” said Dhoni. “The wicket changed a bit, it came onto the bat better and they were able to play their shots. It is a tough ground to defend because the outfield is quick.
“Hopefully it won’t be as easy to bat in the second-innings as it is now as the tournament goes on.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 14th, 2012.
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