Veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara produced a masterclass batting performance and Sri Lanka took a giant step towards reaching the Asia Cup final after pipping India by two wickets at Fatullah on Friday. In pursuit of 265 for victory on a flat, unresponsive wicket, Sangakkara held his nerve and smashed his 18th one-day international century as the Lankans reached 265-8 with four balls remaining for their second win in as many matches in the competition.
Sangakkara flayed the Indian bowlers all over the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium, blasting a dozen boundaries and a solitary six in his brilliant innings of 103 off 84 balls.
Although Sangakkara was dismissed by Mohammed Shami in the penultimate over, the islanders chased down their target with Thisara Perera unbeaten on 11 and Mendis not out on five.
Sri Lanka made a fine start to their chase as Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimmane put on 80 runs for the opening wicket.
They were, however, living dangerously, as both batsmen got lives at different points of the game.
Perera, who made 64 from 81 balls, was dropped twice – on seven and on 38 – while Thirimanne, who blasted a century in the previous game against
Pakistan, received a reprieve on five.
After Thirimanne was adjudged out leg-before-wicket off Ravichandran Ashwin, Perera and Sangakkara steadied the ship with a 54-run second-wicket partnership.
Once Perera edged a catch to wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik off Ashwin, the Lankans started losing wickets at regular intervals.
From a handsome position of 148-2, the Lankans slipped to 148-4, with experienced batsman Mahela Jayawardene presenting an easy catch to Rohit Sharma at extra cover off Ravindra Jadeja before the same bowler dismissed Dinesh Chandimal for nought after clean bowling him.
Captain Angelo Mathews was soon lbw to Shami after a painstaking 18-ball six.
Shami aided India’s cause by picking up Sachithra Senanayake, who was caught by Sharma after scoring 12.
Chaturanga de Silva soon followed Senanayake, trapped in front after making nine, but Sangakkara and Thisara Perera held firm to guide Sri Lanka home.
Earlier, opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan struck 94 as India posted 264-9 in their 50 overs. India will, however, feel they fell short by 20-30 runs as they were comfortably placed at 196-3 in the 40th over with Dhawan going strong.
But after Dhawan’s dismissal the Indians added just 68 runs to their total, with spinners Mendis and Senanayake initiating a flurry of wickets to stem India’s flow of runs and bring Sri Lanka back into contention.
After opener Sharma fell leg-before-wicket to Senanayake on 13, Dhawan and stand-in skipper Virat Kohli provided a solid platform for India’s innings with a 97-run stand for the second wicket.
Coming into this game on the back of a match-winning century against Bangladesh on Wednesday, Kohli was once again looking menacing until Mendis outfoxed him with a carom ball to disturb the stumps, leaving the Indian captain two runs shy of his 31st ODI fifty.
Ajinkya Rahane then arrived at the crease but he was out caught at backward point off Senanayake after making 22.
At the other end, Dhawan kept milking singles with ease, adding the odd boundary. However, the 28-year old left-handed batsman could not complete his sixth ODI hundred as he was bowled by Mendis. Dhawan’s 94 came off 114 deliveries with the help of seven fours and one six.
Senanayake made Karthik (four) his third victim and finished with 3-41 from his full quota of 10 overs. Mendis trapped Stuart Binny (nought) before clean bowling Ashwin (18) to end with figures of 4-60 in 10 overs.
Jadeja (22 not out) and Shami (14 not out) smashed some late blows to take India to 264.
BRIEF SCORES
India 264-9 in 50 overs (S Dhawan 94, V Kohli 48, R Jadeja 22 not out, A Mendis 4-60, S Senanayake 3-41) v Sri Lanka 265-8 in 49.2 overs (K Sangakkara 103, K Perera 64, R Jadeja 3-30, M Shami 3-81).
Result: Sri Lanka won by 2 wickets.
Man of the match: K Sangakkara (SL).
-With New Age input
