Tri-series: India beat Lanka by four wickets
PERTH: India overcame a late innings wobble before cruising to a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their second match of the cricket triangular series here today.
After restricting Sri Lanka to 233 for eight, the Indians chased down the target with 20 balls to spare after suffering a mid-innings collapse which reduced them to 181 for 6 in 36 overs.
Ravindra Jadeja (24) and Ravichandran Ashwin (30) then kept their nerve and put on 53 runs for the unbroken seventh wicket stand to guide India home. It was India's second win in what has turned out to be a rather nightmarish tour of Australia.
The victory capped a brilliant match for Ashwin who also claimed 3 for 32 while Sri Lanka batted first for their 233 for 8.
In-form Virat Kohli (77) and Sachin Tendulkar (48) had played a good hand among India's top-order batsmen but the rest were guilty of playing indiscreet shots to leave the team in the lurch.
Virender Sehwag (10) began blazingly by smashing off-side fours off Nuwan Kulasekara and Lasith Malinga before he tried to help a rising delivery over the slips and was caught on the run by the third man fielder.
Sachin Tendulkar (48) appeared in splendid touch and it appeared that he would finally complete his historic 100th international century before he tried to cut an Angelo Mathews delivery too close to his body and dragged the ball on to his stumps.
Tendulkar faced 63 deliveries and hit five fours in his knock. Before he was out, he put on 75 runs for the second wicket with Virat Kohli off 98 balls. India then lost three wickets to poor shot selection and suddenly the match had swung back in balance.
News Posted: 8 February, 2012
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