Masterful Tharanga sets up massive Sri Lanka win
Published:Wednesday | July 3, 2013 | 12:00 AM
Jermaine Lannaman, Gleaner Writer
Opener Upul Tharanga stroked a masterful, unbeaten 174 to guide Sri Lanka to an impressive 161-run win over world champions India in the third match of the Celkon Mobile Cup Tri-Nation Series at Sabina Park yesterday.
Tharanga, who was left out of Sri Lanka's squad for the recent ICC Champions Trophy and was only recalled after regular opener Tillakaratne Dilshan picked up an injury, cracked 19 delightful fours and skied three sixes as Sri Lanka, sent in to bat, posted a challenging 348 for one off 50 overs.
Former captain Mahela Jayawardene also smashed an entertaining 107.
It was the first time in one-day international history that a team was losing one wicket inside 50 overs.
India were restricted to 187 with 5.1 overs remaining as left-arm spinner, Rangana Herath, who used flight and variation to good effect, took three for 37 off maximum 10 overs.
BONUS POINT
Sri Lanka, by virtue of restricting India to fewer than 80 per cent of their total, gained a bonus point and with the win, moved into second place in the standings with five points.
This is four less than leaders West Indies, who won their first two games, and also earned a bonus in their opening contest against the Sri Lankans. India, who have now lost two matches, are pointless and rooted at the bottom without a point.
Sent in on a wicket that was a bit, the 28-year-old Tharanga, later named Man of the Match, and Jayawardene, took a while to get into their stride. However, when they did they made sure that it counted.
The pair put on 213 for the first wicket, with Jayawardene being the more aggressive in the early part, and Tharanga picking up when he left the scene.
Jayawardene struck nine sweetly-timed fours and ticked off two sixes, as India, who employed a total of eight bowlers in the end, struggled to keep up. He was dismissed after reaching his landmark, and looking to up the tempo, in the 39th over.
SCOREBOARD
Sri Lanka innings:
U Tharanga not out 174M Jayawardene c Yadav b Ashwin 107A Mathewsnot out 44Extras (b 1, lb 6, w 16) 23Total (1 wicket off 50 overs) 348
Did not bat: M Perera, K Sangakkara
Fall of wicket: 1-213 (Jayawardene, 38.4 overs)
Bowling: Shami Ahmed 10-0-68-0 (3w), UT Yadav 8-0-64-0 (3w), I Sharma 9-0-68-0 (1w), RA Jadeja 9-0-55-0, R Ashwin 10-0-67-1 (4w), V Kohli 2-0-9-0, SK Raina 2-0-10-0 (1w).
India innings:
RG Sharma c Mathews b Kulasekara
S Dhawan c Tharanga b Herath 24M Vijay b Malinga 30V Kohlic Malinga b Mathews 2KD Karthik
Fall of wickets: 1-12 (RG Sharma, 4.2 ov), 2-52 (Dhawan, 14.3 ov), 3-57 (Kohli, 15.5 ov), 4-65 (Vijay, 18.3 ov), 5-118 (Karthik, 28.1 ov), 6-142 (Raina, 33.5 ov), 7-153 (Ashwin, 37.4 ov), 8-153 (Shami Ahmed, 37.5 ov), 9-166 (I Sharma, 40.3 ov), 10-187 (Yadav, 44.5 ov).
Bowling: K Kulasekara 9-0-37-1 (1w), A Mathews 8-2-23-1, S Senanayake 10-0-46-2 (2w), R Herath 10-0-37-3, L Malinga 7.5-0-40-2 (1w).
Result: Sri Lanka won by 161 runs.
Man of theMatch: Upal Tharanga
Points: Sri Lanka 5; India 0