Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Quite an efficient win by the Indians. Since this is a bilateral series there was no need to worry about net run rate so the Indians could afford to take their time. Never at any stage were there any signs of panic and Dhoni deserves credit for nudging the singles. Gambhir and Raina were positive at the top, Yuvraj didn't get bogged down by the spinners and importantly, India took advantage of the fact that the opposition attack enough. Stay with us for the presentation.

This is India's sixth consecutive win.

Here's Mahela Jayawardene: "They didn't panic at the end. MS batted well. The bowlers bowled well upfront but we couldn't keep the pressure. There was no sideways movement as well. We took the 3rd Powerplay at the right time but unfortunately we lost a couple of wickets. Sanath was brilliant today."

Dhoni: "All the bowlers chipped in. Same for the batsmen as well. We could have bowled a lot better with the new ball. We wanted Jayasuriya to take risks and we played to a plan."

Jayasuriya is the Man of the Match for his 107. He said: "I think the Indians batted well and we fell about 25-30 short. We just need to play more positive cricket. We need to put more pressure on the Indian batsmen."

That's it from us. Do join us for the second match on January 31, remember it's a day-night game in Colombo. On behalf of Siddharth Ravindran and Binoy George, this is Kanishkaa signing off. Cheers!

48.1
1
Dilshan to Dhoni, 1 run, angles it on the pads and he nudges it away to the on side, India win by six wickets

END OF OVER:
48 | 9 Runs | IND: 246/4 (1 run required from 12 balls, RR: 5.12, RRR: 0.50)

  • Rohit Sharma25 (30b)
  • MS Dhoni60 (64b)
  • Thilan Thushara8-0-44-1
  • Ajantha Mendis10-0-47-0
47.6
4
Thushara to RG Sharma, FOUR, Thushara misdirects it on the pads and he delicately whips it away wide of square leg
47.5
0
Thushara to RG Sharma, no run, gets forward and drives on the up towards cover
47.4
1
Thushara to Dhoni, 1 run, stays on the backfoot and defends to the off side and takes a single
47.3
1
Thushara to RG Sharma, 1 run, full on the pads and worked away wide of square leg
47.2
1
Thushara to Dhoni, 1 run, digs out a yorker just wide of Sangakkara and Rohit is determined to go ahead with this single
47.1
0
Thushara to Dhoni, no run, bowls it on target this time as Dhoni stays on the back foot and defends
47.1
1w
Thushara to Dhoni, 1 wide, bangs it in short but he misdirects it wide outside off
47.1
1w
Thushara to Dhoni, 1 wide, bowls the slower ball wide down the leg side, he tries to nudge but misses

10 to win off three overs, here's Thushara, he comes over the wicket, the Powerplays are over

END OF OVER:
47 | 7 Runs | IND: 237/4 (10 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 5.04, RRR: 3.33)

  • Rohit Sharma20 (27b)
  • MS Dhoni58 (61b)
  • Ajantha Mendis10-0-47-0
  • Muthiah Muralidaran10-0-52-1
46.6
0
Mendis to RG Sharma, no run, gets forward and pushes it straight to mid-off
46.5
1
Mendis to Dhoni, 1 run, stays on the backfoot and cuts it to the off side
46.4
4
Mendis to Dhoni, FOUR, gives him the charge to a flatter delivery and whacks it along the turf past the bowler and mid-off
46.3
0
Mendis to Dhoni, no run, steps down the pitch and tries to steal a quick single to cover, Rohit wisely sends him back
46.2
1
Mendis to RG Sharma, 1 run,
46.1
1
Mendis to Dhoni, 1 run, angled on the pads and he gives him the charge and pushes it firmly wide of midwicket, that's the fifty stand

END OF OVER:
46 | 11 Runs | IND: 230/4 (17 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 5.00, RRR: 4.25)

  • MS Dhoni52 (57b)
  • Rohit Sharma19 (25b)
  • Muthiah Muralidaran10-0-52-1
  • Ajantha Mendis9-0-40-0
45.6
1
Muralidaran to Dhoni, 1 run, works it to square leg for a single

Another typically efficient fifty by the captain

45.5
0
Muralidaran to Dhoni, no run,
45.4
4
Muralidaran to Dhoni, FOUR, gets to his fifty with a cracker of a shot, steps down the track and crashes a full delivery past the bowler and mid-off, nobody had a chance
45.3
1
Muralidaran to RG Sharma, 1 run, clips it wide of square leg and they scamper through for the single
45.2
4
Muralidaran to RG Sharma, FOUR, he picks the flight well, takes a couple of paces down the track and lofts him against the turn to long-off
45.1
1
Muralidaran to Dhoni, 1 run, angled on the pads and he works it with the turn to the on side

END OF OVER:
45 | 5 Runs | IND: 219/4 (28 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 4.86, RRR: 5.60)

  • MS Dhoni46 (53b)
  • Rohit Sharma14 (23b)
  • Ajantha Mendis9-0-40-0
  • Muthiah Muralidaran9-0-41-1
44.6
1
Mendis to Dhoni, 1 run, punches it firmly towards Kulasekara at mid-off and sets off, he hits the stumps but the batsman's safe
44.5
1
Mendis to RG Sharma, 1 run, floated on the pads and worked to the on side

India tour of Sri Lanka 2008-09 News

India 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st13SR TendulkarG Gambhir
2nd113G GambhirSK Raina
3rd11Yuvraj SinghSK Raina
4th44MS DhoniYuvraj Singh
5th66MS DhoniRG Sharma