Statemates Gambhir (unbeaten 150) and Kohli (107) crack twin centuries as India overwhelm highest ODI total at Eden to take
an unassailable 3-1 lead over Sri Lanka.
Dilip Vengsarkar was, perhaps, the happiest man on Thursday. Not only because India won the ODI series against Sri Lanka. It may not also be because he was present at Eden Gardens to watch the proceedings. But surely because one of his hand-picked players proved him right.
When Vengsarkar’s selection committee picked Virat Kohli for the first time for the tour of Sri Lanka in August 2008, many a eyebrow was raised. His colleagues in the committee were sceptical about the Delhi lad’s ability to perform at the highest level. Even skipper MS Dhoni was believed to be astonished with the chairman’s choice. Kohli was picked ahead of S Badrinath and some Board officials were not too amused either.
It later came to light that Vengsarkar was questioned about Kohli’s selection and the former India captain, who had seen him during an Emerging Players’ tournament in Australia, stuck to his guns.
Vengsarkar was not immediately available for comments but Kohli showed that he has arrived in the big league. His 107 off 114 balls (224-run third-wicket partnership with Delhi mate Gautam Gambhir) was crucial in India’s seven-wicket victory.
Chasing 316 to win the tie, India found themselves in a spot of bother at 23 for two before Kohli, in the company of Gambhir (unbeaten 150) resurrected the innings. The hosts went on to win the match in 48.1 overs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.
Gambhir, who became the newest member of the 3000-run club, faced 137 balls in his controlled knock, hitting 14 fours. Kohli’s mature 114-ball innings was studded with 11 boundaries and a six.
Earlier, Upul Tharanga (118) hit his seventh ODI century and starred in a 126-run stand with captain Kumar Sangakkara (60) as Sri Lanka posted 315 for six, the highest score at Eden till India overwhelmed it.
After Tharanga and Sangakkara had laid the platform for a late charge, debutant Thissara Perera hit a 14-ball 31 to make the most of the batting powerplay and helped the visitors cross the 300-run mark.
Both teams now move to Delhi for the fifth and final ODI on Sunday. India’s chase got off to a wobbly start and Eden Gardens crowd watched in horror as the home side lost both their openers inside four overs with Suranga Lakmal, playing only his second ODI, being the party-pooper.
Stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag (10) had begun with a bang, sending the first ball of the innings from Perera to the rope, a treatment he repeated four balls later. Lakmal, however, had other ideas and his fourth delivery took an edge off Sehwag’s blade and nestled into point fielder Tillakaratne Dilshan’s hands.
In his next over, Lakmal induced Sachin Tendulkar (8) for a doomed cut and Suraj Randiv sent groans across the stadium when he took the catch at cover point.
— With inputs from agencies
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