Fatullah: Kumar Sangakara once again played a crucial knock to help Sri Lanka win the match against India. After 3 quick wickets in the middle of their inning, Sri Lanka were in trouble. But Sangakara kept Sri Lanka in the game. He got out after completing his hundred. At that time, Sri Lanka needed 7 runs to win in 9 balls. India had an outsude chance to tie this game but Thisara Perera was dropped by Shikhar Dhawan in the last over. He did not offer another chance and sealed Sri Lanka's win with a single on the very next delivery. This was Sri Lanka's second win in as many matches in Asia Cup 2014.
Till 31st over, Sri Lanka were coasting along with 8 wickets in hand. But then Jadeja, in 32nd over dismissed Jayawardene and Chandimal on consecutive deliveries to peg Sri Lanka back. India got Lahiru Thirimanne out in the 18th over of Sri Lankan inning as Ravichandran Ashwin trapped him in front of the stumps. But barring that Sri Lanka remained untroubled by India's bowling. Kumar Sangakara has joined Kusal Perera in the middle. Chasing 265 runs to win this game, Sri Lankan opening pair of Lahiru Thirimanne and Kusal Perera made a solid start. By the end of 10 overs, Sri Lanka were 51/0, India could have dismissed Perera in the 4th over of the inning but Dhawan and Rahane collided with each other and dropped that catch.
India managed to score 264 runs in 50 overs. They were, at one stage looked comfortable to cross the 280 run mark with ease. But Sri Lankan bowling did not allow them to do so. In the last 20 overs, India lost their 7 wickets and scored 119 runs. For Sri Lanka, the trio of spinners - Mendis, Senanayake and Chaturanga de Silva - took 8 Indian wickets. Sri Lanka bowled well to restricet the run-flow during the last ten overs; especially in the powerplay where they conceded just 28 runs. India lost 3 wickets between 31 to 40 overs. Dhawan got out on 94. Rahane was caught at backward point. And Dinesh Karthik scooped one to mid-off as he mistimed a pull shot.
Kohli and Dhawan continued their good work untill Ajantha Mendis dismissed him on 48. Considering, Kohli is India's most in-form batsman, that was a big wicket for Sri Lanka. Dhawan though is still in the middle. After the 30 over mark, India were 145/2 with Dhawan on 75 and Rahane on 6. Although Rohit did not last for long, Kohli and Dhawan made sure that India did not lose any wickets. These two added 48 runs in the last 10 overs for India. India were 85/1 after the end of 20 overs with Kohli on 26 and Dhawan on 45. Sri Lanka won the toss and askd India to bat first. Like in the last game against Bangladesh, Indian openers were slow in the beginning. But then Shikhar Dhawan managed to hit 3 boundaries in 2 overs. Just when, he and Rohit Sharma looked settled, Senanayake dismissed Rohit Sharma on 13. By the end of 10 overs, India were 37/1.
