Colombo: Opener Gautam Gambhir (102) hit a calculated century and Suresh Raina played a decisive 65-run knock to power India to a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international, on Saturday.
Chasing 287 to win, India overhauled the target with two balls to spare and took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Gambhir’s 11th ODI century could have gone down the drain had Raina not played that heroic innings in company of Irfan Pathan (34 off 31).
The two-left handers added 92 runs in their unconquered sixth-wicket partnership and piloted India to highest ever successful run chase on the Sri Lankan soil.
Raina’s 23rd half-century, adorned with six fours and one six, while Pathan’s innings had three boundaries.
After electing to bat, Sri Lanka put on an impressive 286 for five with Kumar Sangakkara (73), Angelo Matthews (71 not out) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (65) scoring half-centuries.
For India, pacer Zaheer Khan (2/39) accounted for two wickets while Irfan Pathan, Ashok Dinda and Rahul Sharma chipped in with a wicket apiece.
India’s chase, though, was shaky with Virender Sehwag (3) becoming the first victim when Thisara Perera had him caught in covers.
Gambhir and Kohli then put on 105 runs for the second wicket to repair the innings. Spinner Rangana Herath separated them when he caught Kohli off his own bowling in the 21st over.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself up the order and made a useful 31, adding 67 runs with Gambhir for the third wicket.
Despite Gambhir’s century, it was the 65 from 45 balls that earned Raina the Man-of-the-Match award.
And if losing the match wasn’t bad enough, it was announced that Sangakkara has been ruled out of remaining two ODIs and T20 after sustaining a hairline fracture in that will keep him out of action for atleast a month.
He will also miss the inaugural season of the Sri Lankan Premier League next month.
Sangakkara was injured by a short ball from Ashok Dinda that hit him on the glove. Although he was in considerable pain, the former captain batted on until his dismissal. (PTI)