Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan's brisk 123 led Sri Lanka to a three-wicket victory over India in the second limited-overs international on Friday.
Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan's brisk 123 led Sri Lanka to a three-wicket victory over India in the second limited-overs international on Friday.
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Chasing India's score of 301-7 from 50 overs that featured skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's aggressive 107, Sri Lanka rode on the flying start provided by Dilshan to make 302-7 with five balls to spare.
With the victory, Sri Lanka drew level at 1-1 in the five-match series after India won Tuesday's opening encounter by three runs.
Dilshan struck two sixes and 12 fours off 113 balls and was the dominant partner in the opening stand of 102 with Upul Tharanga, who made a composed 37 to set up Sri Lanka's successful chase. Tharanga was the lone victim of spinner Harbhajan Singh (1-58).
Posting his fifth century in one-day internationals, Dilshan asserted his supremacy over the Indian attack, putting on 45 runs for the second wicket with captain Kumar Sangakkara (21) who was run out in a mid-pitch mix up.
Dilshan was the third batsman to get out when he was bowled by Ashish Nehra (1-74) with the total on 213, having added another 66 for the third wicket with former captain Mahela Jayawardene.
Jayawardene (39) and Thilina Kandamby (27) made useful contributions before they fell in a three-wicket burst from pace bowler Zaheer Khan (3-63) that revived India's hopes.
Angelo Mathews then hit an unbeaten 37 to steer Sri Lanka to victory. Keeping him company at the end was Ajantha Mendis, who remained unbeaten on two.
Earlier, Dhoni led India's recovery from a top-order slump. The India No. 5 struck two sixes and 11 fours off 111 deliveries to post his sixth century in one-dayers and shared an innings-building partnership of 126 with Suresh Raina (68).
Dropped on 94 by Mendis at covers off seamer Mathews, Dhoni fell in the final over to debutant off-break bowler Suraj Randiv, who was the pick of Sri Lanka's attack with figures of 3-51 two days after joining the injury-hit touring side.
Rookie seamer Suranga Lakmal, who arrived with Randiv to join the squad after the first game on Tuesday, did not claim a wicket in his first international match.
Randiv's other victims were half-centurion Virat Kohli (54) and Harbhajan Singh (8).
Batting first after Dhoni won the toss, India got off to a shaky start losing opener Virender Sehwag (4) and Gautam Gambhir (2) to reach 19-2 in the fifth over.
Sehwag edged a delivery from Chanaka Welegedara (1-53) to wicketkeeper Sangakkara, while Gambhir was run out after colliding with Welegedara as he tried to go around the bowler.
Opening batsman Sachin Tendulkar made a composed 43 off 52 deliveries to steady the Indian innings by producing a 62-run stand with Kohli.
Tendulkar hit four boundaries before being stumped by Sangakkara when he stepped out to drive spin bowler Mendis (1-57).
Kohli hit seven boundaries from 65 deliveries before Randiv trapped him lbw.
Raina provided the perfect foil for skipper Dhoni, smashing three huge sixes and four boundaries off 55 deliveries. He got out to a catch by Randiv off Mathews (1-60).
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