India won the final one-dayer of the 5-match ODI series against by 3 wickets to make it 5-0 in the series. Virat Kohli slammed yet another century, the 21st of his career, to take India over the line as India chased down 286 in style.
Image: BCCI
Batting first Sri Lanka put up a challenging total of 286-8 in their full quota of 50 overs. Angelo Matthews played a captain’s innings to take the score to 286. He played a brilliant century before getting out on 139. His innings was crafted with 6 boundaries and 10 massive hits over the boundary. He was well supported at the other end, at first, by Mahela Jayawardene (32) and later by Lahiru Thirimanne (52). Dhawal Kulkarni turned out to be India’s beat bowler once again after his 5-wicket haul at the Eden Gardens. He picked up 3 while Axar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin scalped a couple of Lankans each.
However Matthews’s extra-ordinary innings of 139 failed to earn Sri Lanka their first win on this tour as Virat Kohli took the centre stage while India came on to bat. After a poor start by the Indians, Kohli played like a true champion, first with Ambati Rayudu (52) and then with the tail-enders to make it a clean sweep for India. Kohli remained unbeaten on 139 as he finished it off with a straight six over long-on off Ajantha Mendis. Once it seemed that Sri Lanka might just finish the tour on a winning note when India needed more than 50 runs in less than 7 overs with 3 wickets left in hand. But Kohli made it look easy as he was given a proper support at the other end by Axar Patel who also remained unbeaten on a valuable 16 off just 14 balls.
The series turned out to be a fruitful one for the young guns of Indian cricket got their opportunities to get a taste of international cricket. With the Australian tour coming up followed up by the ICC World Cup 2015, it was great chance for India to have a look at their bench strength and India have just that.
Tags: india Sri Lanka Virat Kohli
