Dilshan century steers Sri Lanka to victory

Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed his second straight century to guide Sri Lanka to a three-wicket victory over India in the second One-Day International, in Nagpur, on Friday.

Dilshan scored 123 from 113 deliveries, inclusive of 12 boundaries and two sixes, as Sri Lanka posted 302 for seven in 49.1 overs in reply to India's 301 for seven.

Young all-rounder Angelo Mathews kept his cool in the final moments of the match to score a composed 37 off 25 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries, as the visitors levelled the five-match series 1-1.

Dilshan was in punishing form right from the start as he added 102 runs for the opening wicket with Tharanga, who scored 37 from 42 deliveries, to lay the foundation for the huge run chase.

Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit his second century in a row at the VCA stadium to help India recover after the early dismissal of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir.

India's captain, who got three let-offs, smashed 107 from 111 deliveries, including eight boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught at square leg off debutant off-spinner Suraj Randiv.

In his previous match at the venue in October, he had slammed a quickfire 124 as India outclassed Australia by 99 runs.

Dhoni started off steadily before unleashing his powerful array of strokes towards the end, especially in the final overs that saw India gather 102 runs in the last ten.

Suresh Raina was equally effective with the bat and gave the innings much-needed momentum, smashing 68 from 55 deliveries, inclusive of three sixes and four boundaries, before he was caught at midwicket off Angelo Mathews.

Raina and Dhoni made most of the Batting Powerplay, taken after 40 overs, putting on 126 runs in 19.5 overs for the fifth wicket.

India innings:

Sehwag, who hit a cracking century in the previous match, started off in style, hitting a wide delivery from Chanaka Welegedara through point for a boundary.

However, he fell three deliveries later attempting a similar shot, but this time he edged it behind and was caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara for four. (4-1, 0.4)

Gautam Gambhir failed for the second match in a row. He was unfortunate to be run-out, for two. The left-hander went for a quick single at mid-on but collided with the bowler, Chanaka Welegedara, and Angelo Mathews fired a direct hit at the non-striker's end to catch him short. (19-2, 4.1)

India continued to shuffle their batting with Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropping down the order, while youngster Virat Kohli was promoted to number four. The Delhi batsman got off the mark with a boundary when he flicked Mathews through fine leg in the sixth over.

Tendulkar got his second boundary when he pulled a short delivery from Welegedara through midwicket in the ninth over to move to 21. A couple of deliveries later, Welegedara once again erred with his length and Tendulkar had no problem in despatching it for a boundary, this time through the off-side, to move to 25.

Debutant Suranga Lakmal's first ball in international cricket was crashed to the cover boundary by Virat Kohli as India scored 45 for two after ten overs. Kohli repeated the shot in the debutant's next over as the bowler yet again pitched it full and wide.

Kohli seemed to be gaining in confidence as he hit Ajantha Mendis through fine leg for his fourth boundary of the innings as India reached 60 for two after 13 overs. Lakmal once again suffered at the hands of Kohli when his full delivery was driven straight down the ground for a boundary, his third in three overs against the right-hander.

The duo brought up their 50-run partnership from 60 deliveries for the third wicket in the 15th over to help India fightback after those two early wickets.

Sri Lanka's gamble by introducing debutant Lakmal early backfired as Tendulkar hit him for yet another boundary, through midwicket. The medium pacer had conceded four boundaries in his four overs so far, giving away 29 runs, to help India recover after their horrid start and put up 80 for two after 16 overs.

Tendulkar decided to attack Mendis as he stepped down the wicket but missed, and was stumped by Sangakkara. The veteran batsman scored a brisk 43, inclusive of four boundaries, in his 52-ball knock and added 62 runs in 12.4 overs for the third wicket with Kohli. (81-3, 16.5)

Lakmal continued to struggle against Kohli, who hit him for back-to-back boundaries through fine leg in the 18th over, to race to 40 from 44 deliveries.

Dhoni nearly lost his wicket when his cut against Lakmal fell just short of Welegedara, at third man, who dived forward but took the ball on the first bounce.

Kohli completed his half-century off 57 deliveries with a double straight down the ground off Randiv as India were 125 for three in 25 overs, which included 83 dot deliveries.

However, Kohli didn't last for long. He was trapped leg before when he shuffled across his stumps and attempted to play Randiv on the leg side. He scored 54 from 65 deliveries, inclusive of seven boundaries, helping India recover after those early wickets. He added 51 runs in 9.4 deliveries for the fourth wicket with Dhoni to keep the scoreboard busy in the middle overs. (132-4, 26.3)

Dhoni survived another chance in the next over when his edge off Mathews flew past wicketkeeper Sangakkara for a boundary. He then hit Lakmal fine through third man for his third boundary as India moved to 151 for four after 30 overs.

Suresh Raina got his first boundary when he cut a short delivery from Lakmal through the point region in the 32nd over.

While medium pacer Lakmal struggled on his debut, giving away 57 runs in eight overs, Randiv was proving to be Sri Lanka's best bowler of the innings, having taken one for 20 in six overs.

Dhoni got two lifelines in the space of three deliveries off Mendis as Sangakkara dropped an edge, and then missed an easy stumping in the 37th over.

In the same over, he brought up his half-century, his second in a row, off 70 deliveries, with a single to long-off.

In the next over, Dhoni hit the first six of the match when he lofted part-timer Tillakaratne Dilshan over wide long-on. Raina showed his intent as he launched Welegedara high into the stands at midwicket for his first six as India reached 199 for four after 40 overs.

India took the Powerplay at the start of the 41st over and the batsmen immediately started looking for the big shots. Raina charged down the wicket and lifted Randiv over long-on for his second six in the 42nd over as India looked to make most of the fielding restrictions.

Raina was taking charge as he pulled a short delivery from Mendis through square leg for a boundary in the next over. A couple of deliveries later, he stepped out again and hit Mendis for a huge six over midwicket to bring up his half-century from just 44 deliveries.

Dhoni also decided to change gears and lofted the inexperienced Randiv over mid-wicket for a six and followed it up with powerful boundary straight back past the bowler to take India to 240 for four after 44 overs.

The five overs of Batting Powerplay helped India take control as they smashed 50 runs without losing a single wicket.

Raina played the upper cut over the vacant slips region against Welegedara for his second boundary in as many overs to take India to 258 for four after 46 overs.

The left-hander's blazing knock came to a tame end when he smashed a slow delivery from Mathews straight to Randiv at midwicket.

Raina helped India take control in the final overs as he smashed 68 from 55 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries and three sixes, adding 126 runs in 19.5 overs for the fifth wicket with Dhoni. (258-5, 46.2)

Welegedara suffered when Ravindra Jadeja hit him for back-to-back boundaries for 16 runs in his ninth over as India amassed 283 for five after 48 overs.

Dhoni then slammed a short delivery over mid-icket for a boundary off Mathews to move to 94. Off the very next delivery, he got his third lifeline when Mendis dropped an easy catch at the cover region as Dhoni tried another big shot in the 49th over.

Two deliveries later, the Indian captain brought up his century, his sixth in ODIs, off 106 deliveries in the penultimate over of the innings, having hit seven boundaries and two sixes.

Dhoni, however, seemed totally exhausted as the physio had to attend to him just before the start of the final over. He though showed no signs of tiredness when he flicked a full delivery from Randiv over the midwicket for his eighth boundary.

However, he fell off the next delivery when he hit Randiv straight to Dilshan on the midwicket boundary. He was dismissed after a fine innings of 107 from 111 deliveries, during which he hit eight boundaries and two sixes.

Harbhajan Singh fell off the final delivery of the innings, stumped by Sangakkara, as India finished on a huge 301 for seven in their 50 overs.

India changed the script drastically in the final overs as they scored 102 runs in the last ten to take control. If the top order had failed to fire, the middle order came good and the young duo of Raina and Kohli gave Dhoni good support as they set about building the innings in the middle overs.

For Sri Lanka, debutant Randiv impressed with the ball as he took three for 51 in ten overs, while Mendis claimed one for 57 in ten overs.

Without Sanath Jayasuriya in their line-up, Sri Lanka have a stiff task on hand and once again Sangakkara will need to lead from the front with the bat.

Sri Lanka innings:

Tillakaratne Dilshan got the first boundary of the innings, driving a full delivery from Zaheer straight down the ground in the second over.

Upul Tharanga then punished Praveen Kumar with three successive boundaries in the third. The first one was driven through the covers, where Harbhajan Singh misfielded, and Tharanga followed it up with boundaries through square leg and the point region to take Sri Lanka to 23 for no loss after three overs.

Ashish Nehra, replacing Kumar, was welcomed with a powerful straight boundary by Dilshan in the fifth over of the innings.

Dilshan then spoiled Zaheer's good start as he hit a hat-trick of boundaries in his third over to take Sri Lanka to 45 for no loss after six overs.

Tharanga then hit back-to-back boundaries straight down the ground off Nehra to take Sri Lanka past the 50-run mark in the seventh over.

Dilshan got the third boundary when his edge flew through the vacant slip region as Sri Lanka raced to 59 for no loss after seven overs.

Harbhajan Singh was introduced early in the eighth over but even he went for a boundary in his first over as Dilshan smashed a short delivery through the point region.

The off-spinner suffered further in his next over when Dilshan charged down the wicket and lifted one over the mid-off fielder. Two deliveries later he repeated the dose but this time it was straight and over the fence for the first six of the innings. It took Sri Lanka to 81 for no loss after ten overs.

Dilshan brought up his half-century in style when he played the late cut against Kumar for a boundary in the 11th over. It took the right-hander just 31 deliveries to reach the landmark, having hit eight boundaries and a six, to give Sri Lanka a flying start.

Dilshan continued to punish Harbhajan as he hit another boundary against the spinner when he guided him through the third man region in the next over.

With the Sri Lankan openers attacking, India did not take the Bowling Powerplay after ten overs. But the two openers continued to progress at a good rate as they brought up their 100-run partnership off 79 deliveries in the 14th over.

Harbhajan finally got the much-needed breakthrough when he had Tharanga caught at first slip for 37 from 42 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries. The left-hander charged down the wicket looking to play on the leg side but got an outside edge which was neatly held by Sehwag at first slip after adding 102 runs for the opening wicket. (102-1, 14)

Dilshan continued his attacking approach and charged Jadeja and launched him over long-on for his second six in the 15th over.

The in-form Kumar Sangakkara also seemed in good touch as he pulled a short delivery from Zaheer for his first boundary in the 16th over. Sangakkara got his second boundary when he lifted Harbhajan wide of long-off as Sri Lanka reached 133 for one after 18 overs.

India dried up the boundaries for a couple of overs as Sri Lanka concentrated on the singles and twos. But, against the run of play, India struck with the wicket of Sangakkara, who was run-out for 21 from 22 deliveries, after a misunderstanding with Dilshan. (147-1, 21.4)

That wicket saw India fightback with tight overs as Sri Lanka reached 158 at the halfway stage, needing 144 runs from the last 25.

India tightened up things up, conceding 16 runs from four overs, without a boundary, before Dilshan completed his century and broke the shackles with successive fours off Nehra.

Dilshan completed his second century in a row off 91 deliveries when he took a single on the off-side against Nehra in the 30th over. Soon after reaching the landmark, he looked to break the shackles and smashed Nehra for back-to-back boundaries through mid-on and midwicket respectively.

It was Sri Lanka's first boundary after nearly 12 overs as they reached 185 for two after 30, needing 117 from the last 20.

Dilshan seemed intent on staying till the end and concentrated on playing out singles and twos in the middle overs with the Indian bowlers maintaining a good line and length.

But his splendid innings was ended by a superb delivery from Ashish Nehra. The left-arm pacer bowled a fast yorker on middle stump which Dilshan tried to play on the off-side but missed and was bowled for 123 from 113 deliveries, inclusive of 12 boundaries and two sixes. (213-3, 35.5)

Nehra was unlucky in his next over as he got the edge off Mahela Jayawardene's bat, but it flew past the vacant slip region for a boundary, in the 38th over. However, a couple of overs later the batsman was not so lucky when his edge off Zaheer Khan went straight to wicketkeeper Dhoni after a good knock of 39 from 47 deliveries. (232-4, 39.1)

Thilina Kandamby hit boundaries in successive overs off Zaheer to keep Sri Lanka in touch with the asking rate as they reached 254 for four after 42 overs, needing 48 from the last six overs.

With 42 runs needed from as many deliveries, Nehra brought all his experience into play as he conceded just two runs from his eighth over to make it 40 needed from six overs.

Sri Lanka took the Batting Powerplay at the start of the 45th over but they were dealt a blow in the very first over of the fielding restriction.

Kandamby (27 from 32 deliveries) tried to loft Zaheer down the ground but Kohli at mid-on took a few steps back and completed a good catch, tumbling to his right. (264-5, 44.3)

Two deliveries later, Chamara Kapugedera (2) played all over a full delivery from Zaheer and was bowled for 2. (267-6, 44.5)

But Angelo Mathews, who called on for a runner, brought Sri Lanka back with consecutive boundaries off Nehra in the 46th over to make it 23 needed from 24 deliveries.

Debutant Suraj Randiv tried to bring back Mathews on strike but was run-out for 5 at the non-striker's end, attempting a quick single. (285-7, 47.2)

But Mathews tilted the balance yet again in Sri Lanka's favour with a paddle sweep that fetched him a boundary through fine leg to help bring the equation down to 10 needed from the last two overs.

 The fielding once again let India down at a crucial juncture. This time Zaheer, at mid-on, was the guilty party as he fumbled with one hit straight at him to gift the Sri Lankans a boundary and bring them closer to victory.

Mathews finished off things in the final over when he flicked Jadeja on the leg side for a single.

The young all-rounder finished unbeaten on 37 from 25 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries, taking Sri Lanka to 302 for seven in 49.1 overs and giving them a three-wicket victory.

Unlike the first match in Rajkot when Sri Lanka snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, this time they showed great composure to finish off things.

For India, the pacers once again shone with the old ball, particularly Zaheer, who took three for 63 in ten overs. Harbhajan came back strongly after the initial onslaught by Dilshan to take one for 58 in ten overs but the other bowlers failed to come to the party.

With the series level 1-1, the teams now head to Cuttack for the third match on Monday, December 21.