India defeats SL in Tri Nation Cricket

RAICHANDRAN ASHWIN 30 not out, VIRAT KOHLI 77 and SACHIN TENDULKAR 48 led India defeat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets in the second match of the Commonwealth Bank One Day International Tri Series at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) Ground, Perth , Australia on Wednesday. Final scores: SRI LANKA 233/8 (50 overs) INDIA 234/6 (46.4 overs). Ashwin was adjudged Man of the Match for his all round performance, he had earlier taken three for as the Lankans were restricted to 23 for 8 in their 50 overs. India chasing 234 to win, had lost Virender Sehwag early at the total of 14 caught Nuwan Kulasekara off Lasith Malinga for 10. Then followed a 75 runs second wicket partnership between Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli carrying the total to 89 when Tendulkar was removed by Angelo Mathews, clean bowled for 48 including 5 boundaries. Rohit Sharma stayed briefly to add another 33 for the third wicket as the Indians reached the century mark losing Sharma at 122 superbly caught by Dilshan off Thisara Perera for 10. No doubt about that the former skipper was an excellent fielder. Lankan fielders just encircled around him once he got up after the catch. Suresh Raina joined Kohli, who held on at the other hand and reaching his 50 with the help of 7 boundaries. The Indians were closing in, 30 overs gone at 1423 for 3, 91 more required 7 wickets in hand. The Lankans had already applied the pressure through six bowlers and the fourth wicket stand was finally broken by Matthews at the total of 157 when Raina was easily taken high in the air by substitute Senanayake for 24. Skipper Dhoni was the new man but Kohli lost his wicket at 181, another run out. It wasn't there but he decided otherwise and a direct hit at the wicket made all the difference. His top score of 77 included a six and 8 boundaries. A risky single, could have avoided. Lasith Malinga was the fielder who just grabbed te ball and had a direct shot at the stumps. Now Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the middle, 45 more required, 72 deliveries and 4 wickets remaining. The pair added the required runs without further damage to give India four wickets victory. They had added 53 runs for the seventh wicket with Ashwin not out 30 and Jadeja 24. Angelo Mathews took two for 31 while Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad and Thisara Perera had one each for 49, 47 and 37.

Dinesh Chandimal's 50 gave the Lankans some hope that they could carry the score past 200 while the Indian bowlers kept a tight check on the batsmen from scoring and much of the time the run rate could barely go over 4 per over when they had lost the fifth wicket at the total of 172. Perera was stumped by Dhoni off Ashwin for 7. Angelo Matthews was the new batsman. Former skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan was the other batsman scoring big when he had lost his wicket just 2 short of fifty which also included 6 boundaries. Upul Tharanga had returned early at the total of 12 for 4 before Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara had a good stand of 62 for the second wicket when Sanga departed at the total of 74, second wicket for Zaheer Khan, caught by Mohindra Singh Dhoni for 26. Dilhsan finally returned to the dressing room at the total of 100, caught Virat Kohli off Ravindra Jadeja for 48. Kohli made it for the run out chance he had missed earlier. Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Mahela Jayawardene then added another good 52 for the fourth wicket before Mahela lost his wicket to Ashwin at 152 caught Rohit Sharma for 23. Thisara Perera was the fifth man out, stumped Dhoni off Ashwin for 7 and the total being 172. Angelo Matthews came in to add 17 more when Chandimal departed at the total of 189. Another stumping by Dhoni, third wicket for Ashwin and Chnadimal's top score of 64 included 4 boundaries. Lahiru Thirimanne was the new man and he departed soon to make it 204 for 7, a run out. He went for a single without realising that the ball had travelled straight to the fielder whose direct throw to the keeper did the rest. Stuck in the middle and there was nothing he could do to scramble back. Nuwan Kulasekara was the new man when just 18 more deliveries left at 210 for 7. Zaheer Khan's one before the last over, they could wind up well before 250. At the other end it was Vinay Kumar back in operation. Zaheer Khan finished with two for 44 and he got his first when Rohit Sharma took a good catch to send Kulasekara back at 229 for 7. Lasith Malinga joined Matthews for the remaining deliveries, eight down for 230 and the inning closed at 233 for 8 when 50 overs were completed. Angelo Matthews was not out 33 and Lasith Malinga had just opened his account for 1. Ravichandran Ashwin was the most successful finishing at three for 32 while Vinay Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja had one each for 56 and 41. Sri Lanka now plays Australia on Friday.