India Clinch Rajkot Run-Fest By Three Runs

India Clinch Rajkot Run-Fest By Three Runs

Virender Sehwag's century helped set India up for their three-run win.

©REUTERS / Action Images

India 414-7 (Sehwag 146, Dhoni 72, Tendulkar 69) beat
Sri Lanka 411-8 (Dilshan 160, Sangakkara 90) by three runs
Scorecard | TV Reaction
First One-Day International, Rajkot

India held on to beat Sri Lanka by three runs in the first One-Day International in Rajkot in a game that saw 825 runs scored in 100 overs.

Virender Sehwag hit a career-best 146 in 102 balls as India piled up 414 for seven and despite 160 from Tillakaratne Dilshan and 90 from Kumar Sangakkara, Sri Lanka came up short, closing on 411 for eight.

Sehwag's 12th ODI century saw him surpass his previous best of 130 and half-centuries from Mahendra Singh Dhoni (72) and Sachin Tendulkar (69) enabled India to beat their previous record score by one run, bettering the 413 for five they managed against Bermuda in the 2007 World Cup.

Sehwag hit 17 fours and six sixes and after Suresh Raina (16), Gautam Gambhir (11) and Harbhajan Singh (11) fell in the pursuit of quick runs, late contributions of 27 in 19 balls from Virat Kohli and an unbeaten 30 in 17 balls from Ravi Jadeja ensured India became the second team to score 400 runs in an ODI for the second time, equalling South Africa's record.

Dhoni's 72 came in just 53 balls after he promoted himself to number three in the order after a 153-run opening stand between Sehwag and Tendulkar, who faced 63 balls for his 69.

In reply, Sri Lanka got off to the perfect start, Dilshan adding 188 with Upul Tharanga (67) and then putting on 128 with Sangakkara, who hit his 90 in just 43 balls.

Once Dilshan was dismissed, bowled by Harbajan Singh having faced 124 balls, India slowly began to work their way back into the game, Sanath Jayasuriya (5) and Mahela Jayawardene (3) being dismissed cheaply.

Angelo Mathews (38) and Thilina Kandamby (24) forged a 56-run partnership for the sixth wicket to take the game down to the wire but with 11 runs required from the final over, Ashish Nehra held his nerve, picked up the wicket of Mathews, and limited Nuwan Kulasekara and Chanaka Welagedara to two singles from the final two balls.

The two sides now move on to Nagpur for the second match in the five-game series on 15th December.

© Cricket World 2009

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