India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI

Yesterday Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat first. The Indians began with some great bowling and Sri Lanka lost 3 batsmen within the first 10 overs. Then came in Captain Mahela Jayawardene. He,along with inform batsman Kumar Sangakarra began to reform the innings. Unfortunately for him, Sangakarra was hit on his finger. However,he continued to play. Both of them made great half centuries. After making it to his 50, Jayawardene lost his wicket when he was given lbw. In came Angelo Mathews. Soon, Sangakarra also lost his wickets and to replace him came Jeevan Mendis. Zaheer Khan,who had bowled very well for the India,had almost completed his quota of overs by the 40th over. And again, India conceded a huge number of runs in the last 10 overs. And they found themselves looking at a target of 287 at the end of 50 overs. Sri Lanka,with their fighting spirit, had managed to pull it back brilliantly. The opening pair of Gautam Gambhir and Virender Sehwag began the proceedings. However, the Indians had a bad start losing Sehwag in  the 2nd over. Then came India's new hero,Virat Kohli. Gambhir,like in the previous match, was playing some brilliant shots,keeping the required rate within sight. The two of them made a 100+ partnership. But after a while,Kohli lost his wicket at 38. Now it was Dhoni's turn to take the Indians home. Dhoni did well and made a 31. He was then bowled by Malinga. In came Rohit Sharma,who hasn't done anything splendid in the series and the disappointment continued when he was given lbw to Malinga. Suresh Raina came in. Gautam Gambhir made 102 before being run out. Irfan Pathan came in. The situation was slipping away. But Raina and Pathan rose to the occassion and attacked the bowling. India came into the game with a fair chance. Finally they needed 12 off 12 balls which became 3 off 4 balls. Irfan Pathan tried to work it away for a 4 and end the game but missed. 3 off 3 balls. Pathan tried again and this time the ball connected. It raced away to the boundary. What a win..! Raina proved to be a great finisher for the team and he capitalized on the contribution made by Gambhir. India took lead in the series 2-1.





Zaheer Khan celebrates Dilshan's wicket

The batsmen take runs

Gautam Gambhir

Saviors Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan celebrate

                                                                                 

India vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI

Gautam Gambhir makes a 50

M.S. Dhoni won the toss yet again and elected to bat first in the 2nd ODI yesterday. India began with a brilliant start making it to 30 off just 3 overs. Just as the Indians had began to wreck the Sri Lankan bowling, Thsara Perera was put into the attack. And there began India's sorrow. Virender Sehwag shot the ball at Perera and he took a great reflex action catch. In came Virat Kohli, but he was back in the pavillion after scoring a run when he was caught behind. Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina left in quick succession. With less than fifteen overs gone,half the Indian line-up was down. M.S. Dhoni came in. On the other side Gautam Gambhir was the only one who had managed to stay. It was important that Dhoni and Gambhir had a good partnership going. But after scoring just 11 runs Dhoni was caught behind. What had begun as a dream run for India was turning into a nightmare.Irfan did not do anything significant.Ashwin came in,scored a few boundaries,got run out in a very poor fashion and left. Ojha came in and lost his wicket soon. Meanwhile Gambhir scored a very morose half-century. Finally,in the 34th over Gambhir had to bow down to  the Lankans on being caught. India left with a meagre 138 on board. Sri Lanka came and attacked the Indian bowling. Upul Tharanga and Dilshan both played fantastically and scored half-centuries. India managed to claim only one wicket,that of Dilshan's. Sri Lanka won the game easily with around 180 balls left. The Indians left the field after displaying a highly forgettable performance while the Sri Lankan's performance made batting and bowling look easy. So now the series is levelled at 

India vs SriLanka 1st ODI

Gautam Gambhir loses his wicket

This is my first post on this blog which happens to be my second blog. Yesterday was that first ODI of Micromax Cup Ind vs Sl.. India won the toss and elected to bat first. The openers Sehwag and Gambhir had a jittery start. Gambhir lost his wicket in the second over. In came Virat Kohli. Soon after Virender Sehwag set in and the duo built a good partnership. Sehwag lost his wicket 4 runs shy of a century. Virat Kohli made it to 106 before losing his wicket. Raina and Captain cool, Dhoni displayed good batting before losing their wickets in the last over. India ended up making 314. Sri Lanka had a bad day on the field losing Kulasekara due to an injury. Sri Lanka began their innings ready to chase the stiff target of 315. Zaheer Khan began the proceedings. However,Sri Lanka's sorrow continued when they lost Dilshan in the second over when he was given LBW. In came Sangakarra. They two began to steady the innings when they lost Tharanga. In form Sangakarra did well but ran out of partners. Chandimal,Jayawardene,Mathews and Thirimana went in quick succession. Sangakarra found a good partner in Perera. The two began to consolidate the innings and Sri Lanka came right into the game with a fighting chance. Finally Perera was dismissed 48(22).Sangakarra was dismissed after a while having made a fighting 133. Herath was dismissed soon after, leaving Malinga and Kulasekara on the crease. It was down to the last over and now Sri Lanka stood no chance. However,Malinga hit some good shots but he was too late. India managed a 21 run victory. Almost all bowlers had claimed atleast one wicket. Although many number of wides were conceded India displayed good bowling. Irfan Pathan had an excellent economy of 3.70 of his 10 overs.

Virat Kohli makes a hundred

Kumar Sangakarra plays a shot

M.S. Dhoni (left) and Mahela Jayawardene (right) shake hands after the game.