New Delhi: India has won the first match by 152 runs at Nagpur to go up 1-0 in the seven-match One-Day series.
Harbhajan Singh and Murali Kartik took three wickets each to put brakes on the visitors run machine who were chasing the target of 350 set by the hosts.
Making his debut, Sree Santh, chipped in with the last two wickets to bowl out the Lankans for 198 in 35.4 overs.
Following his fine performance with the bat, Irfan Pathan bowled the Sri Lankan captain Marvan Atapattu off the second ball of the innings to give the visitors the first jolt.
Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara tried to bring back their team in the game but the accuracy and guile of the Indian bowlers proved too much for the them.
After their wickets fell, the visitors lost the stomach to fight and fell like nine pins.
Indian innings
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar's return to international cricket was full of excitement and drama.
The master blaster played a wonderful innings to bring the smiles back in the Indian dressing room but got out on 93 just when he was in sight of his 39 one-day century.
The opener along with Virender Sehwag justified their captain's belief in batting first after winning the toss by taking full advantage of the fielding restrictions.
Tendulkar, back to international cricket after a long layoff due to elbow surgery, showed no sign of discomfort as he settled into his rhythm very quickly.
The master blaster reached his half-century in just 52 balls to announce his return to the big stage.
Virender Sehwag too started in a cavalier fashion but the experience of Chaminda Vaas proved too much for him.
Vaas had him caught behind by Kumar Sagakkara on the score of 20 with India on 41.
His dismissal brought Irfan Pathan to the crease as the pinch hitter.
Pathan justified his surprise promotion by scoring at a rate faster than run a ball.
He scored a quick fire 83, his highest, in just 70 balls before being caught by Jayawardane of the bowling of Dilshan.
Soon afterwards Tendulkar also departed with the team score on 207.
The finishing touches to the innings were given by Dravid and Dhoni whose whirlwind innings made sure that India were able to score 350 in their stipulated overs.
Dravid made 85 in just 63 balls whereas Dhoni made 38 of 28 balls.
Comments
0 comment