India beat Sri Lanka, win first ODI overseas in 7 months

India Gazette (IANS) Wednesday 8th February, 2012

Virat Kohli struck a match-winning 77 as India finally tasted their first ODI win overseas in seven months, beating Sri Lanka by four wickets in the second game of the tri-series at the WACA Ground here Wednesday.

Riding on Kohli's brilliant knock and Sachin Tendulkar's 48, India achieved the target of 234 in 46.4 overs in what was the first clash between the two sides since the 2011 World Cup final last year in Mumbai.

For Sri Lanka, their poor run in the ODIs continued, with just two one-day international wins in 16 matches.

Ravindra Jadeja, cricket's new million-dollar man, and Ravichandran Ashwin remained unbeaten on 24 and 30 to take the team home safely. Ashwin, who picked up three for 32, was also adjudged the Man of the Match.

Ashwin, dropped from the Indian side for the third Test at the same venue last month, and pacer Zaheer Khan (2/44) did well to restrict Sri Lanka to 233 for eight in 50 overs.

India started the chase with Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, who replaced Gautam Gambhir as an opener as a part of the rotation policy. Sehwag departed for 10 after Nuwan Kulasekara took a good running catch in the third man area off Lasith Malinga.

Tendulkar and Kohli then added 89 runs for the second wicket to bring India on track. Tendulkar appeared to be cruising towards his half-century but on 48 he dragged an Angelo Mathews delivery onto his stumps.

Kohli, the only Indian to hit a century during the 0-4 thrashing in the Test series against Australia, was on course for a well deserved century but ran himself out, having hit a six off the last ball, and pulled his hamstring in doing so. Kohli faced 94 balls, hitting eight boundaries and one six.

With Kohli back in the pavilion, India suddenly looked shaky at 181 for six, but Jadeja and Ashwin guided the team home.

Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal struck a crucial 64 off 81 balls while former captain Tillakaratne Dilshan (48) and Angelo Mathews (33 not out) contributed well in what was otherwise an uninspiring batting effort by Sri Lanka.

Indian pacer Zaheer Khan (2-44) picked up the crucial wickets of Kumar Sangakkara (26) and Upul Tharanga (4) while spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged three for 32.

Chandimal played a responsible knock while his experienced team-mates failed. Chandimal's knock ensured Sri Lanka at least reached a defendable total.

Chandimal finally gave away his wicket when he charged down the wicket, with Mahendra Singh Dhoni completing the stumping after a slight fumble.