The victory helped India end their 15-year drought in the Asia Cup, having last won the tournament in 1995, in Sharjah.Chasing 269 for victory, the hosts folded up for 187, handing India an 81-run victory. India had an advantage batting first after Dhoni won the toss. Nehra was the star performer with the ball for India, claiming four for 40 in nine overs, while Zaheer (two for 36) and Jadeja (two for 29) made important contributions.
Openers Gautam Gambhir and Karthik hit boundaries early in their innings. On 7, Gambhir enjoyed two reprieves off successive deliveries in the third over by Kulasekara. First, he was dropped by Thilan Kandamby and off the next delivery, wicketkeeper Sangakkara, standing up to the stumps, failed to hold on to a difficult chance.Gambhir's luck finally ran out. He was run out for 15.
Openers Gautam Gambhir and Karthik hit boundaries early in their innings. On 7, Gambhir enjoyed two reprieves off successive deliveries in the third over by Kulasekara. First, he was dropped by Thilan Kandamby and off the next delivery, wicketkeeper Sangakkara, standing up to the stumps, failed to hold on to a difficult chance.Gambhir's luck finally ran out. He was run out for 15.
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India beat Sri Lanka by 81 runs
It was part-timer Thilina Kandamby, who provided Sri Lanka an important breakthrough when he claimed the wicket of Karthik for 66.Suresh Raina and Rohit Sharma batted with caution at the start of their innings as Sri Lanka's spinners again stitched together a few tight overs.Raina grew in confidence and the shots started to flow. But Raina's innings was cut short when he was foxed all ends up Malinga. Raina was dismissed for 29 from 31 balls.
Sri Lanka had managed to check India's charge with a wicket at the right time.India's woes worsened when Rohit Sharma lost his wicket a couple of overs from the end. India failed to find even a single boundary in the last five overs, scoring just 32 runs, to finish on 268 for six in their 50 overs.
Sri Lanka got off to a horrible start, losing a wicket in the very first over.Praveen Kumar struck with the big wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan for a duck. Nehra made it worse for the hosts when he got the wicket of captain Kumar Sangakkara. Sangakkara was dismissed for 17, leaving his team tottering at 51 for five after 16 overs. Ravindra Jadeja finished things off, having Muttiah Muralitharan stumped for two, as Sri Lanka were bundled out for 187 in 44.4 overs, giving India victory by 81 runs.
