Rain stole a second game in Brisbane with the situation delicately poised and both India and Sri Lanka claimed the advantage after the match. Kumar Sangakkara felt a chase of 268 was achievable while Gautam Gambhir was convinced his team had scored enough to secure a much-needed victory.
Gambhir's unbeaten century set up the strong target, which came after India fell to 4 for 83, but the wet weather arrived during the innings break and India suffered another washout. "We had a good chance of beating Australia in the first game and today we thought we had a very good chance," he said. "With a couple of early wickets we would have really been in the game. It's a bit unfortunate because we feel we could have won both and taken full points."
India lead the competition on four points while Australia and Sri Lanka, who play in Sydney on Friday, have two each. Sangakkara was disappointed to have missed a diving catch off Gambhir on 11 and said the team would need to work on tighter bowling over the final ten overs.
"It would have been a good chase, 260 was very gettable," he said. "It's a good track and a fast outfield."
Muttiah Muralitharan picked up two wickets in an over but another highlight came from the performance of Ishara Amerasinghe, who was picked ahead of Farveez Maharoof. Playing only his second ODI, Amerasinghe bowled particularly well to return 1 for 30 from ten overs.
"When you're building a fast bowling attack you have to play the three fast bowlers who are bowling their best," Sangakkara said. "The way Ishara went today was fantastic."