India
managed a stunning batting display to ensure their chances of qualifying to the
final of the CB series were still alive as they beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets on Tuesday.
Chasing Sri Lanka's total of 320 runs, Virat Kohli was
the star for the Indians as he scored a blazing century to ensure India completed
the herculean task of getting the target in less than 40 overs.
The win takes in India a bonus
point, critical to their contention in the tri-nation series. Qualification
although tough, is now possible with the two Asian nations tied with 15 points
in the table.
India now hope for a
favour from the hosts; who can trigger their qualification if they beat Sri Lanka
by a margin that makes the islanders' run rate slip below that of India. Australia, who have beaten Sri Lanka just
once in the three encounters in this series.
India needed to a achieve a run rate of over 8 an
over - a bar that they were never far off from through their entire chase.
The mainstay of the
Indian chase however was the stand between Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir who
added 115 runs in just 18.1 overs. The partnership was ended by a brilliant run
out by Dinesh Chandimal.
For the first time
in the series, Indian openers looked in command of the early overs but Sehwag's
tendancy to have a go at every ball dealt India a severe blow after his
partnership with Tendulkar had crossed fifty. His partner, who has had dual
responsibility for almost a year now, perished to a deceptive low full toss by
Lasith Malinga.
India
reached the target within 37 overs, putting the pressure on Sri Lanka to sprint even at the last hurdle in
the series, one that seemed non-existent before India's batting display.
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