Virat Kohli 9th ODI hundred and 1st on Australian soil helped India to chase down the target of 321 runs in just 36.4 overs to registered a must win against Sri Lanka and that too with bonus points to keep their hopes alive of making into the best of three Finals of CB Series.
Now India have to sit and watch the last league game between Australia and Sri Lanka and hope that Australia beat Sri Lanka in that game to allow India to qualify for the Finals.
After set a target of 321 runs by Sri Lanka in 50 overs, India knew right from that start to give them an outside chance they must achieve the target in 40 overs to register a win with bonus points. But by considering the form of every batsman in the team it looked impossible target. However Sachin Tendulkar (39 runs off 30 balls) and Virendra Sehwag (30 runs off 16 balls) given an excellent start by putting 54 runs in just 6.2 overs before Sehwag dismissed trying to pull a short ball from Mehroof.
Indians doesn’t have affected with the dismissal of Sehwag but rather continued to up the tempo and in doing so Sachin lost his wicket to Lasith Malinga. However the most importantly new batsman Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir tried to build partnership and they did exactly what team required by putting 115 runs off just 109 balls.
Sri Lankan Captain Mahela Jayawardne held the 2nd powerplay till 27th over but in 28th over he was forced to take that and from where India got hold on the game with flourish of boundary started to flow from Kohli and Raina (40 runs off 24 balls). Indians have scored more than 100 runs in batting and bowling powerplay and that sealed the game for India.
Earlier Indian Captain for the first time won the toss in CB series and decided to bowl first. However at the end of Sri Lankan innings it looked like that Sri Lanka have posted more than enough to chase down in 40 overs for the Indians with the help of brilliant century from T.Dilshan (160 runs off 165 balls) and K.Sangkkara (105 runs off 87 balls).
Virat Kohli was declared Player of the Match for his brilliant unbeaten inning of 133 runs from just 86 balls that includes sixteen 4’s and 2 huge sixes.
