Punjab suffered their eighth loss in 12 games and bowed out of the competition
cricket7 hours ago
The opener smashed one six and 12 fours in a 115-ball 110 for his eighth one-day hundred, and the first at home, as Sri Lanka posted a challenging 299-8 on a good batting pitch after winning the toss in the day-night match.
India never seriously threatened Sri Lanka’s total and were bowled out for 225, despite a fighting 67 by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
“It was a good toss to win,” said Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara. “Our openers Mahela Jayawardene and Dilshan started well. Dilshan then continued to bat really well.
“Thisara Perera lengthens our batting, but his bowling has been very impressive in the last couple of games. The discipline in line and length has been the key for us.”
India needed a big partnership to achieve the stiff target, but the highest stand was of just 50 runs for the third wicket between Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh.
Kohli (37), Suresh Raina (29), Virender Sehwag (28) and Yuvraj (26) got starts, but failed to convert them into big knocks.
India suffered a big setback when in-form opener Sehwag was run out, failing to beat a Chamara Kapugedera direct-hit at the striker’s end after hitting six fours in his 22-ball knock.
Dhoni was the last man out, but hardly received support from the other end as Sri Lanka’s bowlers kept striking at regular intervals.
Paceman Perera and off-spinner Suraj Randiv took three wicket apiece while fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who turned 27 on Saturday, finished with two wickets.
“We just didn’t spend enough time in the middle,” said Dhoni.
“Credit goes to Sri Lanka as they batted and bowled well. Our bowlers gave them a bit of width and that’s one thing you don’t want to give Dilshan. He smashed us all around the park.”
Sangakkara earlier built on man-of-the-match Dilshan’s effort with an attractive 62-ball 71, which included one six and seven fours. His brisk knock saw the hosts plunder 80 runs in the last 10 overs.
Dilshan, 33, dominated the Indian attack with exciting strokeplay to put his team on course for a big total, adding 121 for the opening wicket with makeshift opener Jayawardene (39).
Jayawardene also became the third Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya and Aravinda de Silva to complete 9,000 runs in one-day internationals during his 67-ball knock.
Dilshan was more aggressive than Jayawardene, hoisting paceman Ishant Sharma over long-on for a six and hitting a four off the next delivery. He reached his half-century when he cut left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra for a four.
Although Sri Lanka lost Jayawardene and Upul Tharanga (six) in the space of 11 runs, they continued to maintain an impressive run-rate, thanks to Dilshan’s aggressive knock.
Dilshan, who also added 85 for the third wicket with Sangakkara, fell in the 40th over when he pulled paceman Praveen Kumar to Ishant Sharma at deep square-leg.
Punjab suffered their eighth loss in 12 games and bowed out of the competition
cricket7 hours ago
Around 10,000 units were delivered in Dubai and 1,600 in Abu Dhabi in Q1, demonstrating strong growth in the UAE’s residential sector
business7 hours ago
We see a large whitespace opportunity in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, an important factor in our plans for continued expansion of our store network: Sunil Kumar
business7 hours ago
Mathews made his T20 comeback for Sri Lanka in January after a three-year gap
cricket7 hours ago
United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees says 80,000 people have fled Rafah since Monday
mena9 hours ago
US prosecutors charged an Indian citizen with plotting to kill a Sikh separatist and said an Indian government official was involved in the planning
world9 hours ago
About 175 flights were cancelled due to sudden sick leave calls from crew members
aviation10 hours ago
The visit was the king's second engagement in two days after he hosted the first annual garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday
europe10 hours ago