SL’s win doesn’t D(hon)ishearten India

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha made way for One-day International debutant Ravindra Jadeja and Lakshmipathy Balaji. Sri Lanka made (Fernan)do changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Angelo Mathews and Dilhara made way for Thilan Thushara and Ajantha Mendis.

On winning the toss, Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s skipper, chose to bat. Their openers put on 50 off 8.3 overs (53 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point. While Tillakaratne Dilshan was batting on 14, Jayasuriya was batting on (Sana)thirty-four.

The second Powerplay of Sri Lanka’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Jayasuriya, whose 35-ball innings included seven boundaries, eventually scored 37. Sixty-one legal balls into the match, he was caught by Suresh Raina. Irfan Pathan broke the 66-run partnership.

Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. Sri Lanka had scored 88 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Dilshan was batting on 34, Kumar Sangakkara, the player of the match, was batting on 10.

Sri Lanka scored 100 off 16.2 overs (102 balls). India had conceded eight extras at that point. The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 55 balls. While Dilshan’s contribution to the partnership was 19, Sangakkara’s contribution to it was 30. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Dilshan’s half-century – which included five boundaries – came off 64 balls. Sri Lanka scored 150 off 24.1 overs (150 balls). India had conceded nine extras at that point.

Sangakkara’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 46 balls.

The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 99 balls. While Dilshan’s contribution to the partnership was 39, Sangakkara’s contribution to it was 59. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

Sri Lanka scored 200 off 31.4 overs (196 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point. Sangakkara, whose 70-ball innings included eight boundaries and a six, eventually scored 84. A hundred and thirty-six balls after Jayasuriya’s dismissal, he was caught by Rohit Sharma. Yuvraj Singh broke the 143-run partnership.

Thirty-six overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. Sri Lanka had scored 225 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Dilshan was batting on 88, Thilina Kandamby was batting on half-a-dozen.

Sri Lanka scored 250 off 40.1 overs (247 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point. Kandamby, whose run-a-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 26. Fifty-one balls after Sangakkara’s dismissal, Ishant Sharma broke the 46-run partnership.

The fourth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Dilshan, whose 117-ball innings included nine boundaries, eventually scored 97. The next ball, Rohit ran him out.

Chamara Kapugedera, who faced a ball, D(hon)idn’t get off the mark. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Mahendra Singh, India’s skipper. Ishant broke the one-run stand. Jayawardene, who faced four balls, scored a run. The next ball, he was caught by Raina off the bowling of Yuvraj.

The third Powerplay of Sri Lanka’s innings was between the 45^th and the 50^th over. Thushara, whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored 11. Twenty-two balls after Jayawardene’s dismissal, he was caught by Ishant, who broke the 21-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 300 off 48.4 overs (299 balls). India had conceded 17 extras at that point. The eighth-wicket pair put on 38. Farveez Maharoof, whose 23-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, scored 32. Twenty-two balls after Thushara’s dismissal, Raina and Dhoni ran him out.

Nuwan Kulasekara, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, was unbea‘ten’. Muttiah Muralitharan, who faced three balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten. India eventually conceded 19 extras. Sri Lanka scored 320 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs.

Rohit, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded 13. Virender Sehwag and Yusuf Pathan bowled three wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 26, the latter conceded 20.

Balaji, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 32. Jadeja and Raina bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 40, the latter conceded 24.

Irfan, who bowled nine overs, conceded 55. He picked up a wicket. Yuvraj, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 39. He picked up a couple of wickets. Sharma, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 60. He picked up three scalps.

Sehwag, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Ten balls into the chase, he was caught by Jayasuriya. Thushara broke the eight-run stand. Raina, who faced three balls, didn’t get off the mark. Four balls later, he was caught by Sangakkara. Kulasekara broke the 0ne-run stand.

India scored 50 off eight overs (48 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded a couple of extras at that point. Gautam Gambhir, whose 15-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 13. Thirty-six balls after Raina’s dismissal, he was caught by Sangakkara. Kulasekara broke the 43-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Rohit, whose 22-ball innings included a boundary, scored 15. Forty balls after Gambhir’s dismissal, he was caught by Kulasekara. Maharoof broke the 33-run stand.

Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 85 for the loss of four wickets at that point. Yuvraj was batting on 48. His half-century – which included 10 boundaries – came off 46 balls.

India scored 100 off 16.3 overs (100 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded three extras at that point. Yuvraj, whose 62-ball innings included 11 boundaries and a six, eventually scored 73. Thirty-seven balls after Rohit’s dismissal, he was caught by Muralitharan, who broke the 36-run stand.

Yusuf, who faced 13 balls, scored just three. Twenty-four balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Muralitharan, who broke the 17-run stand.

India scored 150 off 27.5 overs (170 balls). The number of extras Sri Lanka had conceded at that point gave them no reason to be in seventh heaven.

Thirty-four overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 179 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets at that point. While Dhoni was batting on 44, Jadeja was batting on 17.

The seventh-wicket pair put on 50 off 62 balls. While Dhoni’s contribution to the partnership was 27, Jadeja’s contribution to it was 19. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

Dhoni’s half-century – which included a boundary and a couple of sixes – came off 55 balls. He faced 58 balls, eventually scoring 53. Sixty-five balls after Yusuf’s dismissal, he was caught by Kulasekara. Jayasuriya broke the 55-run partnership.

India scored 200 off 38 overs (233 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded nine extras at that point. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 43^rd and the 47^th over.

Irfan, who faced 21 balls, scored just eight. Thirty-nine balls after Dhoni’s dismissal, he was caught by Kapugedera. Mendis broke the 24-run stand. Although his 10-ball innings included a boundary, Balaji had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 25 balls later, he was caught by Kulasekara. Mendis broke the 26-run stand.

Jadeja’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 66 balls. He eventually scored 60 off 77 balls, which included five boundaries, and was unbeaten.

India scored 250 off 48.1 overs (294 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded nine extras at that point. Ishant, who faced half-a-dozen balls, scored four. A dozen balls after Balaji’s dismissal, Maharoof broke the nine-run stand.

Sri Lanka eventually conceded 10 extras. India, who were dismissed for 252 off 48.5 overs, lost by 68 runs. Dilshan bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceding 15. Thushara and Jayasuriya bowled half-a-dozen overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 34, the latter conceded 28.

Maharoof bowled 5.5 overs, conceding 46. He picked up two wickets. Kulasekara bowled nine overs, conceding 42. He picked up two of wickets. Mendis and Muralitharan bowled 10 overs each, picking up two scalps apiece. While the former conceded 44, the latter conceded 41.

India won the five-match series 4-1.