India clinch series; SL D(hon)isheartened

India made just one change to their playing eleven – Rahul (Shar)made way for Manoj Tiwary.

Sri Lanka made a couple of changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Kumar Sangakkara and Isuru Udana made way for Lahiru Thirimanne and One-day International debutant Nuwan Pradeep.

On winning the toss, Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s skipper, chose to bat.

The first Powerplay of Sri Lanka’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 45, without the loss of a wicket.

Sri Lanka’s openers put on 50 off 11.3 overs (69 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point. While Upul Tharanga’s contribution to the partnership was 19, Tillakaratne Dilshan’s contribution to it was 27.

The second Powerplay of Sri Lanka’s innings – which was the batting Powerplay – was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. They scored 35, for the loss of a wicket.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. Sri Lanka had scored 69 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Tharanga was batting on 31, Dilshan was batting on 33.

Dilshan, whose 48-ball innings included seven boundaries, eventually scored 42. A hundred and ten balls into the match, he was caught by Mahendra Singh, India’s skipper. Ashok Dinda broke the (Dho)ninety-one-run partnership.

The third Powerplay of Sri Lanka’s innings – which was the bowling Powerplay – was between the 21^st and the 25^th over. They scored 22, for the loss of a wicket.

Sri Lanka scored 100 off 20.2 overs (122 balls). India had scored five extras at that point.

Tharanga’s half-century – which included four boundaries and a six – came off 71 balls. He faced eventually 73 balls, scoring 51. Eighteen balls after Dilshan’s dismissal, he was stumped by Dhoni. Ravichandran Ashwin broke the 11-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 150 off 31.2 overs (188 balls). The number of extras they had conceded at that point gave India no reason to be in seventh heaven.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 62 balls. India had conceded a couple of extras at that point. While Thirimanne’s contribution to the partnership was 20, Dinesh Chandimal’s contribution to it was 28.

Chandimal, whose 32-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. Sixty-three balls after Tharanga’s dismissal, he was caught by Irfan Pathan. Tiwary broke the 50-run partnership.

It was at that point that the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 152 for the loss of three wickets at that point. Thirimanne was batting on 24.

Jayawardene, who faced three balls, scored as many. Three balls after Thirimanne’s dismissal, he was caught by Dhoni. Virender Sehwag broke the three-ball stand.

Angelo Mathews, whose 34-ball innings included a boundary, scored 14. Fifty-four balls later, he was caught by Virat Kohli, the player of the match. Tiwary broke the 35-run stand.

Sri Lanka scored 200 off 43.1 overs (259 balls). India had scored 13 extras at that point.

Jeevan, whose 16-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Twenty-four balls after Mathews’ (Men)dismissal, Tiwary broke the 23-run stand.

Thisara Perera, who faced three balls, scored a couple. Five balls later, he was caught by Suresh Raina. Tiwary broke the five-run stand.

Thirimanne, who faced 69 balls, eventually scored 47. An over later, Ashwin broke the one-run stand.

Rangana Herath, whose 15-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 17. He was unbeaten, as was Lasith Malinga, who scored 15. His seven-ball innings included a couple of sixes.

India eventually conceded 15 extras. Sri Lanka scored 250 off 50 overs (300 overs). They scored 251 for the loss of eight wickets.

Kohli and Rohit Sharma bowled two wicketless overs apiece. While the former had no reason to be in seventh heaven, the latter conceded half-a-dozen. Zaheer Khan and Pathan bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 36, the latter conceded 27.

Dinda bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceding 28. He picked up a wicket, as did Sehwag bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 38. Ashwin bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 46, picking up a couple of wickets. Tiwary bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 61, picking up four scalps.

The first Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the mandatory Powerplay – was between the first and the 10^th over. They scored 52, for the loss of a couple of wickets.

India’s openers didn’t get off the mark. Gautam Gambhir, who faced five balls, didn’t open his account. Five balls into the chase, he was dismissed by Malinga.

India scored 50 off 8.4 overs (52 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded four extras at that point.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 47 balls. While Sehwag’s contribution to the partnership was 34, Kohli’s contribution to it was a dozen. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

Sehwag, whose 29-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, didn’t add to the aforementioned score. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by the substitute, Sachithra Senanayake. Mathews broke the 52-run partnership.

Rohit, who faced 14 balls, scored just four. Twenty balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Pradeep, who broke the eight-run stand.

Fourteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 61 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Kohli was batting on 18, Tiwary hadn’t opened his account.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the bowling Powerplay – was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. They scored 31, without the loss of a wicket.

India scored 100 off 20.5 overs (127 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded eight extras at that point.

Tiwary, whose 38-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, eventually scored 21. Sixty-six balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Mendis, who broke the 49-run stand.

Kohli’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries – came off 65 balls.

India scored 150 off 31.1 overs (189 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded eight extras at that point.

Thirty-two overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 153 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Kohli was batting on 67, Raina was batting on 19.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 55 balls. While Kohli’s contribution to the partnership was 30, Raina’s contribution to it was 20. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings – which was the batting Powerplay – was between the 36^th and the 40^th over. They scored 55, without the loss of a wicket.

India scored 200 off 38.1 overs (231 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded nine extras at that point.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 100 off 92 balls. While Kohli’s contribution to the partnership was 54, Raina’s contribution to it was 47. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Raina’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a six – came off 46 balls.

Kohli’s ton – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 106 balls.

Kohli, whose 119-ball innings included a dozen boundaries and a six, eventually scored 128. He was unbeaten, as was Raina, who scored 58. His 51-ball innings included four boundaries and a six.

India scored 250 off 42 overs (254 balls). Sri Lanka had conceded 10 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

India, who scored 255 for the loss of four wickets off 42.2 overs, won by half-a-dozen wickets with 46 balls to spare.

Dilshan bowled eight wicketless balls, conceding 10. Perera bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceding 51. Herath bowled seven wicketless overs, conceding 44.

Mendis and Mathews bowled half-a-dozen overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 37, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 18. Pradeep and Malinga bowled eight overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 52, the latter, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 41.

India led the five-match series 3-1. In fact, they won the series with a match to spare.