Sports Reporter :A century by Kumar Sangakkara guided Sri Lanka to earn a dramatic two-wicket win over India in their crucial ODI match of the Asia Cup at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on Friday.Kumar Sangakkara made a splendid 103 from 84 balls including 12 fours and a six.Sent into bat first, India made a fighting 264 for the loss of nine wickets.In reply, Sri Lanka reached the winning spot scoring 265 for the loss of eight wickets when they had just four balls to spare.Sri Lanka made a solid foundation as Kusal Perera and Lahiru Thirimanne, the two openers of the islanders put on together 80 runs in the opening stand before Thirimanne was trapped leg before wicket by Ravichandran Ashwin when Sri Lanka’s total was 80 for the loss of one wicket. Then Kusal Perera and Kumar Sangakkara repaired the damage adding together 54 runs for the second wicket stand before Kusal Perera was caught behind by Dinesh Karthik off Ravichandran Ashwin when Sri Lanka’s score was 134 for the loss of two wickets.Kusal Perera notched up a worthy 64 from 81 balls with four boundaries and two over boundaries while Lahiru Thirimanne scored 38 off 55 balls including four fours and a six.Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami bagged three wickets each instead of 30 and 81 runs respectively while R Ashwin took two wickets for 42 runs.Earlier, India had an unsteady start as they lost their first wicket for 33 runs.Later, Virat Kohli and Shikhar Dhawan salvaged their team from catastrophe contributing together 97 runs for the second wicket partnership before Virat Kohli was cleanly bowled out by Ajantha Mendis when the team’s total was 130 for the loss of two wickets.After dismissal of Kohli, Dhawan and AM Rahane added together 45 runs in the third wicket stand before Rahane was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne when India’s total was 175 for the loss of three wickets.Then Shikhar Dhawan was bowled out by Ajantha Mendis when the world champions score was 196 for the loss of four wickets. Dhawan knocked a splendid 94. His 114-ball innings was laced with seven fours and a sixer. Skipper Virat Kohli hit 48 from 51 balls with four fours and a six.After departure of Shikhar Dhawan, Indian batsmen failed to build any notable partnership. Ravindra Jadeja and AM Rahane scored 22 and 22 (not out) respectively.Ajantha Mendis captured four wickets at the cost of 60 runs while Sachitra Senanayake claimed three wickets instead of 41 runs.Besides, PC de Silva and Lasith Malinga took one wicket each for 51 and 58 runs respectively.
