Lanka breaks India's winning spree

By ICF Staff
November 6 2005

Sri Lanka wins a consolation victory at Ahmedabad after losing the ODI series, playing a new-look side after India rests several senior players.

Sachin Tendulkar, Irfan Pathan and Harbhajan Singh were rested.

Gautam Gambhir, the regular Test opener, came in to open the innings with Virender Sehwag, and executed his favorite pulls and cuts on his way to a fast century. Especially severe on Lanka's fastest bowler Dilhara Fernando, Gambhir's 103 puts him in contention for an ODI spot.

Captain Rahul Dravid scored an identical 103 not out, as the rest of the batting lineup failed for the most part. Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Rao and Raina all departed cheaply but India put up a challenging 285.

India's largely inexperienced bowling attack, spearheaded by Ajit Agarkar, looked up to the task as Agarkar once again got his bunny Sanath Jayasuriya for 8 with Rao taking the catch in slips, then struck again to have Upal Tharanga caught by stand-in captain Sehwag. Pace partners RP Singh and Sree Santh, both newcomers to the squad, were ineffective for the most part.

Marvan Atapattu then joined Jayawardene to put up a 70 run partnership before Murali Kartik got the Lankan captain caught-and-bowled. Thereafter, Dilshan and Arnold saw the visitors through, with Dilshan winning Man of Match for his unbeaten 81.

Captain Atapattu was relieved with the consolation victory, happy to take any boost into the 3-test series which is to follow.

The sixth ODI will be played at Rajkot on Wednesday.