Dhoni And Khan Lead India To Victory
Khan - Dazzling Spell.
A fighting knock from India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped his side to a three-wicket win in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka and level the series at 1-1.
The tourists were set a modest victory target of just 143 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium after left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan tore through Sri Lanka's top order with four wickets.
India made heavy going of overhauling the small total and were at one stage teetering at 75 for five.
But Dhoni (39) combined with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (27 not out) in a stand of 60 for the sixth wicket as the tourists eventually got over the line with 10.2 overs to spare.
India's reply began in the worst possible fashion as they lost two wickets in the five overs they were forced to face before the lunch break after skittling out the Sri Lankans.
Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara picked up both scalps removing makeshift opener Irfan Pathan (five), caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara, and Suresh Raina (one) leg before wicket.
That left the Indians 17 for two at the break.
Following the resumption Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli steadied the ship with a patient 36-run stand before Ajantha Mendis trapped Yuvraj plumb in front for 20.
Left-arm medium-pacer Thilan Thushara then struck twice in the 20th over, removing Kohli (37) and Rohit Sharma (nought), to leave the Indians reeling.
Kohli, who had opened the innings along with Pathan, threw away his wicket with a loose drive, while Sharma was a unlucky to be to be adjudged lbw.
Dhoni and Badrinath, however, saw off the spin threat from Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan as they hauled India out of trouble with their stand of 60 coming from 95 balls.
When the stand was finally brought to an end, with Dilhara Fernando bowling Dhoni, the tourists needed just eight runs to win.
And while there was still time for India to lose another wicket, Harbhajan Singh (one) falling victim to Mendis, Badrinath kept his head to steer his side home.
Earlier India's injury worries continued as opening batsman Gautam Gambhir was ruled out with a stiff neck.
With Virender Sehwag returning home on Tuesday due to an ankle injury and Sachin Tendulkar ruled out before the start of the series after hurting his elbow, Gambhir's loss left Dhoni with a much weakened batting line-up.
Dhoni won his second toss in a row and chose to field first, admitting it was a decision forced on him given his inexperienced top order.
But Zaheer got his side off to a flying start when took the prize scalp of Sangakkara (two) in his first over, getting a ball to cut back and clip the top of his off stump.
The left-armer then struck twice more in his next over, dismissing Mahela Jayawardene (two) and Chamara Kapugedera (nought), the two batsmen who had led Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory in the first ODI.
Jayawardene departed quickly edging an angled delivery from Zaheer to Yuvraj, who was stationed in the unfamiliar position of first slip, and he held on after juggling the chance.
The left-arm bowler then induced a faint edge from Kapugedera which Dhoni held firmly, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 10 for three.
Praveen Kumar then picked up the wicket of Chamara Silva (nought) as wickets continued to fall and Zaheer returned to dismiss Sanath Jayasuriya (13), although replays suggested the bowler was lucky with his lbw appeal.
Thushara and Kulasekara then contributed handsomely with the bat, giving the Sri Lankan target a touch of respectability with a 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket.
Thushara made 44 off just 46 deliveries, while Kulasekara made a battling 25.
Praveen, however, came back in his second spell to claim the wickets of Thushara and Kulasekara and Irfan Pathan picked up the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan (16) in his first over as the Sri Lankans were bowled out in 38.3 overs.