India vs Sri Lanka 3rd ODI, Highlights: Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli Hand Hosts Unbeatable Lead in Five-Match Series
India, rode on 91 from Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli's 53, to defeat Sri Lanka by six wickets and take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Catch all the highlights and scores here.
Virat Kohli became the fastest ever to reach 6000 ODI runs while Shikhar Dhawan became the fastest Indian to breach the 2000-run mark as India crushed Sri Lanka by six wickets in Hyderabad. Catch all the highlights here. (SCORECARD/SCHEDULE)
INDIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS! What a polished performance this has been by a young Indian team. Cracking shows from Dhawan and Kohli tonight after incredible bowling exploits by Umesh and Akshar. Sri Lanka completely outplayed as the hosts take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series. This is Sri Lanka's 8th bilateral series loss in India.
20:48 IST: WICKET! Kohli wanted to draw level with a huge SIX but falls to Dilshan for 53. India are seven away from a win here.
20:42 IST: FIFTY FOR VIRAT KOHLI! And he becomes the quickest to reach 6000 ODI runs, breaking Viv Richards' record. Sensational knock and sensational achievement.
20:34 IST: Guess who is in the stands tonight! Anushka Sharma. The Bollywood star, rumored to be dating Virat Kohli is there to cheer him on as he approaches his 32nd fifty and a world record.
20:24 IST: The Sri Lankans have been largely ineffective with their bowling plans but they have persistently used the short of the length balls at India's batsmen and have had some success. The first victim was Rahane, who perished to Thisara Perera while Dhawan, unfortunate as he was, also fell victim to a short ball from Kulasekara. New man in, Raina was also tested with a short ball.
20:19 IST: WICKET! Dhawan is gone for 91 after he edged a short one from Kulasekara to Sangakkara behind the stumps. However, Dhawan indicated the ball had caught the helmet and not the bat. Kohli could not believe it at the other end. TV replays showed the ball had indeed grazed the helmet. India 201/3 in 34 overs.
20:16 IST: Dhawan is fast approaching another hundred - he must have been disappointed after missing out in Ahmedabad when he played a rash shot on 79. India are 199/2 in 33.4 overs.
20:08 IST: SIX! Kohli slams Seekuge Prasanna for a maximum as India reach 191/2. The hosts are cruising along at a serious clip while Sri Lanka begin to stare down the barrel.
20:04 IST: India are 180/2 off 32 overs chasing 243 vs Sri Lanka. An unbeatable series lead is well within their grasp here tonight.
19:57 IST: FOUR! Kohli slams a short-ball from de Siva. Poor bowling from the Sri Lankans as India reach 169/2 in the 31st over. The tourists need a miracle to turn things around here.
19:53 IST: Some records are falling thick and fast. After Jayawardene became the fifth man to reach 12000 ODI runs, Dhawan became the fastest Indian to reach the 2000-run mark and the fifth fastest ever.
19:50 IST: India are in the driver's seat at 160/2 off 29 overs, chasing 243 vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. Kohli and Dhawan are both looking fluent and the hosts are on course for an unbeatable lead in the series.
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19:33 IST: WICKET! Rayudu is run out for 35 as India reach 131/2 chasing 243 vs Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. Two Delhi lads in the middle now as Kohli joins Dhawan.
19:27 IST: Virat Kohli had asked for a ruthless performance from India before this match and that is exactly what the Indians have been - ruthless. After bowling the Sri Lankans out for 242, their batsmen are cruising along in the chase. No respite for Sri Lanka.
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19:23 IST: SIX! Dhawan slams de Silva out of the park to bring up his 11th ODI fifty as India roar away to 113/1 off 22.2 overs. Rayudu is looking great at the other end as India look to get the total in quick time.
19:14 IST: Sri Lanka have ran into a wall again after removing Rahane. Dhawan has been in brilliant form this series and is on the verge of a fifty for the third time on the trot. India 94/1 off 20 overs.
19:03 IST: Dhawan is looking in sublime form again as India reach 87/1 off 18 overs, chasing 243 vs Sri Lanka.
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18:36 IST: WICKET! Ajinkya Rahane falls for 31 to Thisara Perera as India reach 62/1 off 12 overs. Sri Lanka should feel better after this because Rahane really was beginning to take them apart. But his dismissal has brought together Rayudu and Dhawan, the two men who batted India to a massive win in Ahemdabad in the previous game.
18:29 IST: After 10 overs, Sri Lanka were 40/2 and India are 58/0. The batting at the powerplay has been one of the many differentiating factors between the two Asian giants.
18:25 IST: This looks like another gloomy day on the cards for Sri Lanka. But it wasn't all bad for their fans with Mahela Jayawardene joining a rare ODI club.
18:22 IST: Rahane and Dhawan are looking in fine touch - the 50-run stand for the opening wicket has come up and Sri Lanka are now starting to look concerned; they don't have too many to defend.
18:14 IST: India are 39/0 off 6 overs with Rahane and Dhawan both looking good at the top. Defending 242 will be an uphill task here for the Sri Lankans.
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18:00 IST: FOUR! Another boundary for Dhawan as India reach 20/0 in the fourth over, chasing 243.
17:59 IST: FOUR! Gamage errs in length and Dhawan charges down the pitch to punish the delivery. Dhawan has played a lot of cricket at this stadium for the Sunrisers and he knows these conditions well. India 16/0.
17:53 IST: India are 10/0 after 2 overs chasing 243 vs Sri Lanka. Openers Dhawan and Rahane are in prolific form and the hosts would expect them to give the side another strong start tonight. Sri Lanka would be eager to take a few early wickets. Will they?
17:03 IST: Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 242. Umesh Yadav finished with career best figures of 4/53 while Akshar picked up 3/40. Jayawardene top scored with 118.
16:54 IST: WICKET! Umesh Yadav gets his fourth as he removes Seekuke Prasanna for 29. Sri Lanka are 238/9 in 46.5 overs.
16:42 IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are 225/8 as they lose Jayawardene for 118 to Ashwin. Mahela was furious as he walked back for he knew how important it was for him to stay back. Can the visitors reach 250?
16:38 IST: Jayawardene has got good support from Seekuge Prasanna at the other end with Sri Lanka on 223/7 off 44 overs.
16:34 IST: Jayawardene brings up 12000 ODI runs. He is now the fifth batsman and third Sri Lankan to get there. The others in the list are Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara. Sri Lanka are 212/7 in 43 overs.
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16:28 IST: FOUR! Jayawardene cracks Umesh to the fence as Sri Lanka raise 200 in the 42nd over. This has been a stellar knock by their premier batsman under pressure.
16:14 IST: SIX! Take that. Mahela Jayawardene brings up his 17th hundred and fourth vs India in ODIs as Sri Lanka reach 181/7 in 39.2 overs. What a special knock this has been - almost a lonely waged war.
16:09 IST: Jayawardene is looking to farm the strike here. He's unbeaten on 90 and the lower order has not given him enough confidence. The former captain is key to Sri Lanka reaching a decent total in Hyderabad.
15:54 IST: WICKET! Akshar Patel snares his third victim as he sees off de Silva. Sri Lanka are in dire straits at 154/6 in 34.5 overs. However, they still have some hopes of a decent total if the lower order rallies around Mahela Jayawardene.
15:42 IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are getting into another poor position in the middle stages of their innings as Priyanjan falls to Akshar. The visitors are 148/5 in the 33rd over but Mahela Jayawardene is looking strong for them.
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15:34 IST: WICKET! That's a big one in the net for India as Akshar Patel removes Angelo Mathews for 10. The Sri Lankan captain scored an unbeaten 92 in the previous match and his exit would be a huge boost for the hosts. But Mahela Jayawardene is looking strong and assured in the middle.
15:14 IST: WICKET! What a masterstroke by Kohli to bring Rayudu in to bowl - the part timer struck in his first over to see off Dilshan for 53 and end his 105-run stand with Jayawardene for the third wicket. India are right back in it but have to contend with a well-settled Jayawardene and this year's top scorer in ODIs, Angelo Mathews.Sri Lanka 112/3 after 25 overs.
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14:57 IST: All-spin attack from India now with Ashwin and Akshar bowling in tandem. Sri Lanka have settled in nicely, thanks to Dilshan and Jayawardene, who are looking to build a big stand. The visitors are 84/2 off 20 overs.
14:46 IST: Another bowling change by Kohli as Ashwin comes in to the attack. By the way, there is threat of rain and the ground staff are ready with the covers.
14:42 IST: Dilshan and Jayawardene have got a nice partnership going for Sri Lanka as they try to wriggle their way out of early trouble. Umesh Yadav had struck in his first two overs to get rid of Kusal Perera and Kumar Sangakkara but the visitors have fought their way to 67/2 off 16 overs.
14:30 IST: FOUR! That's aggression and attitude written all over the shot from Mahela Jayawardene as he dismisses an attempted short ball from Ishant, from his presence. The ball was dragged just short of the length and Mahela was quick to dispatch it to the fence.
14:15 IST: Maiden over from Ishant Sharma. Dislshan was tested with pace and some movement. Sri Lanka are 40/2 after 10 overs with Dilshan and Jayawardene in the middle.
14:07 IST: Just five runs off Ishant's first over as Sri Lanka reach 35/2 off 8 overs. Earlier in the day, West Indies fast bowling legend Michael Holding was seen giving tips to Ishant, who heard keenly. What valuable lessons he would have learnt. Can he try some of those tips on the Sri Lankans today?
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14:04 IST: No respite from pace for Sri Lanka. Ishant Sharma has been introduced into the attack and it would be an uphill task for Dilshan and Jayawardene to weather this early storm.
13:58 IST: FOUR! Dilshan clips it off his pads to pick runs off Kulkarni. The Sri Lankan opener is scoring at a run-a-ball and if he gets in, India could be looking at a challenging chase. For sure, Dilshan is due. Sri Lanka 30/2 off six overs.
13:52 IST: Meanwhile, as India keep Sri Lanka under pressure, here's news that could make Indian cricket fans wish the clocks to turn back in time. Sachin Tendulkar has revealed he wanted to play on till 2014 and go on the tours of South Africa and New Zealand. However, the thought of battling injuries for another 12 months forced his retirement in November 2013. Read more here.
13:46 IST: Sri Lanka are off to a poor, poor start losing two wickets early. The onus will be on senior statesmen Jayawardene and Dilshan to bail the visitors out of trouble here. India are pumped up and Umesh has picked up a wicket in each of his two overs so far. Dhawal Kulkarni, who has come in for Jadeja, meanwhile is looking good too.
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13:43 IST: WICKET! Umesh is on fire. He has now seen off the dangerous Sangakkara, who edged it to Ashwin at slips. Sri Lanka are tottering at 7/2 off 2.1 overs with Jayawardene and Dilshan in the middle.
13:35 IST: WICKET! Umesh Yadav strikes in the first over for India. He has knocked off Kusal Perera for 4 with Sri Lanka 5/1 after the first over. What a start for the hosts this is.
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13:07 IST: Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat in the third ODI vs India in Hyderabad. While the hosts have brought in Dhawal Kulkarni for Ravindra Jadeja, Sri Lanka have made two changes too. Suraj Randiv and Dhammika Prasad are out, Chaturanga de Silva and Nuwan Kulasekara come in.
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PREVIEW
Will the real Sri Lanka please stand up? Thrashed by India at Barabati and Motera, Angelo Mathews' Lankans have hardly made India sweat in the series so far. Virat Kohli's Team India are on a roll and with Test berths for the series against Australia at stake, young men like Ambati Rayudu and Akshar Patel are expected to pack a little more punch in Hyderabad on Sunday.
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The Lankans will look up to their senior pros to deliver at Hyderabad. Much of Lanka's fortunes have depended on how Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan perform. For years, this trio has been the fulcrum of the team around which the innings develops. Known to raise their levels in crunch games, expect the veterans to play their roles on a flat batting deck.
Mathews has been the only standout performer. Mathews' 92 not out in Ahmedabad took him to the top of the 2014 ODI run-scorers' list. He has hit 838 runs at 64.46 this year. But this is not a T20 match. The captain need more contributions from both the batsmen and bowlers. No captain wants to lose by playing sub-par cricket.
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Before this tour, Sri Lanka had won 15 of their 20 matches in 2014. Of those, 12 (out of 14) had been overseas victories. They may have been reluctant to tour India - this series was hurriedly arranged after West Indies pulled out - but there is no excuse for a lack of attitude when competing on the field. India will want Sri Lanka to compete in conditions where they can really thrive.
Kohli has led the team well. Rayudu, who scored his maiden ODI century in Motera, is the man in focus. A good knock will guarantee him a berth in the squad for Australia. "Rayudu is one of those batsmen who has a different set of skills -- to bat the full 50 overs. He can come in the middle order and rotate. It was a great show of temperament, and the character and the class that we know he possesses."
That means Suresh Raina will have to score a big one and impress the selectors as the middle-order is looking choc-a-bloc with a clutch of good options available to Sandeep Patil and his 'wise' team. Expect Stuart Binny to get a game too.