Samaraweera powers Sri Lanka to win over India

A splendid 105 (not out) by Thilan Samaraweera powered Sri Lanka to earn a nail-biting five-wicket victory over India in their second ODI match of the IDEA Cup Tri-Nation Cricket Tournament at the flood-lit Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur on Tuesday.
Samaraweera played 106 balls in his match-winning innings, which was laced with 11 fours.
Sent into bat first, India scored 279 for the loss of nine wickets in the stipulated 50 overs.
In reply, Sri Lanka reached the winning target making 283 for the loss of five wickets when they had just 12 balls to spare.
Kumar Sangakkara, the skipper of Sri Lanka led his team from the frontline scoring 60 off 80 balls amid four fours.
Sangakkara and Samaraweera put on together 122 runs in the third wicket stand.
Thisara Perera remained undefeated with 36 off 15 balls including five fours and a six.
Spinner Harbhajan Singh plucked three wickets for 47 runs.
Earlier, India had a modest start as they lost their early three wickets for 71 runs.
Inform Yuvraj Singh and skipper MS Dhoni salvaged their team from danger contributing together 99 runs for the fourth wicket partnership. When MS Dhoni was caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara off Thissara Pereira India’s total was 170 for the loss of four wickets.
After dismissal of MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh could stay at the crease for a short time as he was caught at the mid wicket by Suranga Lakmal off Thishara Pereira when the board was giving a reading of 198 for the loss of five wickets.
Yuvraj Singh hit a brilliant 74 playing 84 deliveries. He struck six fours and two huge sixes.
After departure of Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja added together worthy 65 runs in the sixth wicket stand before Suresh Raina was clean bowled by Chanaka Welagedara, the day’s most successful bowler. At that time India’s score was 263 for the loss of six wickets.
Earlier, Welagedara removed Gautam Gambhir (8), Virat Kohli (9) and Virender Sehwag.
Sehwag hit a windy 47 off 31 balls amid nine fours before he was caught at the mid off by Lahira Thirimanna off Welagedara.
Later, Welagedara bowled out Zaheer Khan for just two runs and helped his team to restrict India below three hundred runs.
Welagedara bowled extremely well and finished his spell as 10-1-66-5.
Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina added 39, 37 and 35 runs to the Indian total.
Thisara Pereira and Thilan Thushara were the other bowlers of Sri Lanka who shone with the cherry claiming a pair of wickets each for 27 and 62 runs respectively.

Courtesy of The New Nation