India v Sri Lanka – http://www.senore.com/Cricket/ICC-World-Cup-2011-c100625 World Twenty20 Warm-up Matches – Match Recap – India win by 26 runs
Bolstered by skipper MS Dhoni’s half-century, and seamer Irfan Pathan’s 5-wicket haul, India claimed a 26-run win over hosts Sri Lanka during their ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match, played at the P Sara Oval in Colombo, today on September 15.
The Indian team won the toss and elected to bat first, but their performance on the pitch was lukewarm at best. Sri Lanka’s http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559 took one each, keeping India down to 146 by the end of 20 overs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 delivery – an ill-timed fitness complaint, with the ICC World Twenty20 just days away. The opener was taken to a nearby hospital for a scan, but the seriousness of the injury is yet to be determined.
Sehwag carried on with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yuvraj-Singh-c98364 were the next pair up to bat, but both batsmen, known for their hard-hitting performances, crumbled after contributing minor scores.
Kohli was dismissed on 8 by Mathews in the 8th over, and Yuvraj followed suit in the very next over, sent back to the pavilion by Herath after a meagre contribution of 11 runs. By this point, at 51 for 4, India were beginning to look shaky.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 to post a final total of 146, by the end of 20 overs, at the expense of 5 wickets.
The batting performance may have lacked firepower, but team India made up for it with their stellar bowling attack, featuring starring performances from comeback pacers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lakshmipathy-Balaji-c72130 (3.3-0-28-3). Returning spinner Harbhajan Singh, playing his first match for the team since August 2011, also made a solid statement, claiming 1 for 17, and keeping the run flow in check with the lowest economy rate on his side – 4.25.
Sri Lankan openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 (who top-scored for his side with 32) and Mathews (16) teamed up for a 30-run stand. The partnership got their total up to 45 by the 6th over, after which Mathews was sent packing by Balaji.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Z-Khan-c98379 claimed Thirimanne for his only wicket of the day in the 15th over, after which Jeevan Mendis (26) and Thisara Perera (10) teamed up to attempt to revive their team’s innings.
However, their partnership was broken up by Pathan in spectacular fashion in the 19th over – the 27-year-old dismissed Perera, skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 reeling at 120 for 8.
The job was finished off by Balaji, who sent both Kulasekara and Malinga packing on duck in the final over, and Sri Lanka finished all out at 120 by the final over, granting India a 26-run victory.
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