|
 |
Sri Lankan bowlers pull off thrilling win COLOMBO - Sri Lanka's pace bowlers grabbed early wickets and their spinners bowled tightly in the dying stages as the hosts pulled off a thrilling six-run victory over India in the triangular one-day series. Avishka Gunawardene had slammed 63 as Sri Lanka set India 222 to win and then restricted them to 215-7 in 50 overs to maintain their 100 percent record from two matches in the tournament that also involves New Zealand.India needed 17 from the last two overs, but Sri Lanka skipper Sanath Jayasuriya gave away just five runs with his left-arm spin in the 49th over and off-spinner Kumar Dharmasena only five in the 50th. Indian captain Saurav Ganguly scored a fighting 69 and shared in an 80-run stand for the fifth wicket with Rahul Dravid, who was left stranded on 49 not out. But once Ganguly fell with the total on 151, India, who had earlier been reduced to 30 for three and 71 for four, lost their way. Gunawardene had hit seven fours as Sri Lanka scored 221 for nine wickets from their allotted 50 overs after electing to bat first. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, with three wickets for 29 from 10 overs, was India's most successful bowler. The Indians lost their first game of the tournament to New Zealand by 84 runs on Friday. Sri Lanka beat the Kiwis by 16 runs in the tournament opener on Wednesday. |
|