It was a nail biting Celkon Mobile Cup tri-series final at Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain yesterday.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni played a captain’s knock to lead India to a tense one-wicket win over Sri Lanka off the final over of the match.
After dismissing Sri Lanka for 201, India were in serious trouble during their chase, slipping to 167 for eight in the 42nd over but Dhoni kept his cool to lead his team across the finish line.
With 15 needed off the last over, the Indian skipper missed the first ball delivered by fast medium Shaminda Eranga before smacking a straight six to the top of the Gerry Gomez Media Centre, a four to the point boundary before ending the game with another six over extra-cover.
He was unbeaten on 45 in the end off 52 balls with five fours and two sixes.
“I think I am blessed with a bit of good cricketing sense,” Dhoni said.
“The 15 players have been very good on the field and that is a good sign. The opposition bowler was not the most experienced in that last over unlike (Lasith) Malinga, so I thought I would take my chances. I went with a heavy bat. The weight was perfect for slogging.”
Also instrumental in the win was Rohit Sharma’s 58 at the top of the innings which set the platform for his skipper’s exploits towards the end.
But it was Sri Lanka left-arm spinner Rangana Herath who really set up the tense finish. He got some turn off the pitch and could have been the hero, grabbing three quick wickets towards the end of his spell to bring Sri Lanka back into the contest.
First he removed the stubborn Sharma, who was bowled by one that kept low with the score on 139. Then in his last over, the left-arm spinner sent back Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandra Ashwin with the score on 152 to put his team ahead and finish with four for 20.
But the Indian skipper trumped the left-arm spinner’s effort, batting with intelligence to seal the victory.
When Sri Lanka batted, Kumar Sangakkara (71) and Lahiru Thirimanne (46) also had a tough assignment, having to rebuild the innings after Bhuvaneshwar Kumar continued his good form with the new ball, striking twice to leave the Sri Lankans 49 for two after 13.1 overs.
After a tentative start against the swinging ball, Sangakkara finally found his footing, cutting a wide ball from Ishant Sharma for four to the backward point boundary.
The Sri Lanka gloveman put on 122 for the third wicket with Thirimanne, who hit 46 off 72 balls in the partnership that lasted more than 24 overs.
But with the overs running out and with eight wickets in hand, the pair decided to up the tempo. It was a decision that paid early dividends but which also ultimately ended in disaster with Sri Lanka losing their remaining wickets for the addition of just 30 runs.
Sangakkara started the onslaught in the 38th over, smashing Sharma for two fours and a six off consecutive balls before Thirimanne found Bhuvneshwar Kumar at mid-off later in the same over.
Sangakkara followed shortly after, hitting Ashwin to Vinay Kumar at mid on. The rest of the Sri Lanka batsmen found the going difficult as Ravindra Jadeja picked off the remaining batsmen to finish with four for 23 from 7.5 overs.
Dhoni then ensured his teammates’ efforts were not in vain. (Trinidad Express)
