Port-of-Spain: Jul 9, 2013
India 119/3 | Overs 29 | Rohit 48*, Raina 4*
Raina lofts Herath to mid-wicket and is lucky that the ball doesn't carry to the fielder in the deep. The batsmen are dealing with Herath cautiously given his double strikes.
And it starts raining. The players are scampering off as the groundsmen get the covers on.
India 116/3 | Overs 28 | Rohit 47*, Raina 2*
Raina is the new man. Jeevan Mendis is introduced and he will bowl his leg-spinners. Raina gets off the mark with a sweep. Mendis raps Rohit on the pads and there is an appeal. However, the ball had pitched outside the leg-stump. Raina tries another sweep, but the ball goes down the leg-side for a wide. There is some variable bounce as the last-one keeps low as Raina takes a single through the leg-side.
India 111/3 | Overs 27 | Rohit 46*, OUT! Karthik 12(17)
Herath bowls a decent over and there are signs of bounce for him. He gets one to turn and Rohit misses it as it bounces a little more. He cuts the next ball through third-man for two.
Karthik is gone now as he goes back and misses one that turns and hits the top of off-stump.
India 105/2 | Overs 26 | Rohit 42*, Karthik 10*
Lokuhettige oversteps yet again and there is a free hit for Rohit. However, he isn't able to make use of that opportunity as it was a full-toss on the body as he manages only a single off that heave. Not much damage in that over as Rohit is still showing patience.
India 100/2 | Overs 25 | Rohit 40*, Karthik 8*
What a shot by Rohit! He sweeps Herath to mid-wicket for a massive six. Have the floodgates opened for him? India's hundred is up as he pushes one to fine-leg for a single. The run-rate creeps up to four an over. India are 100 for two at the half-way mark.
India 92/2 | Overs 24 | Rohit 33*, Karthik 7*
Lokuhettige is back and raps Karthik on the pads first up. Karthik was way down the track and the umpire turns down the appeal. Rohit now dances down the track and doesn't connect a heave across the leg-side. The Sri Lankans have put pressure on him here. But, the overthrows are not going to help. Rohit places one on the off and sets off for a single. The fielder misses and he gets across for two.
Rohit then pulls a short one from Lokuhettige over mid-on for four. That will give him some relief. He tries to guide the next ball to third-man, but gets it too fine. It bounces right in front of Jayawardene ar first-slip who winces in pain as the ball hits him. He is going off the field.
India 85/2 | Overs 23 | Rohit 27*, Karthik 7*
This has been a painful innings for Rohit. The physio is out again to attend to his forearm. Rohit takes a single through long-off. Karthik is very proactive at the crease and even uses his feet ro Herath, turning one for a single through the leg-side. Rohit also attempts the same off the last ball, but doesn't manage to get it away.
India 83/2 | Overs 22 | Rohit 26*, Karthik 6*
Mathews has a hold over Rohit and he hits him again. Relief for Rohit as he manages to take a single and let Karthik face the music. Karthik lets a short ball go through to the wicket-keeper and plays out the rest of the over.
India 82/2 | Overs 21 | Rohit 25*, Karthik 6* OUT! Kohli 31(52)
Herath to continue. Kohli rocks back and places it through the off-side for a single. Rohit leans forward to guide a single through to long-off. Kohli is gone now! The ball stays a touch lower than the batsman expected and traps Kohli as he was on the back-foot. That was crashing into the leg-stump. Dinesh Karthik is the new man and doesn't he announce his arrival in style. he rocks back on to the back-foot and he carts it over mid-wicket for a maximum.
India 74/1 | Overs 20 | Rohit 24*, Kohli 30*
Mathews has come back into the attack. Before this over, he picked one wicket for only three runs in his three overs. The ball doesn't bounce this time as Rohit misses a couple that stay low. Sangakkara fails to collect the second one as the batsmen run through for a bye. Then, Mathews pitches one short and Kohli tries to pull it. The ball goes to square leg on the first bounce. Rohit gets hit again, this time on the arm.
India 72/1 | Overs 19 | Rohit 24*, Kohli 29*
First sighting of spin in this game as Rangana Herath's slow left-arm orthodox is introduced. Rohit lofts the second ball over the off-side for a single. These batsmen are gradually increasing the scoring rate and singles and twos are in order. Five runs come off that over.
India 67/1 | Overs 18 | Rohit 22*, Kohli 26*
Lokuhettige continues as Kohli and Rohit are content in just turning the strike-over. Four singles come off that over and the intriguing contest continues.
India 63/1 | Overs 17 | Rohit 20*, Kohli 24*
The Sri Lankan bowlers are keeping it very tight here. However, if they give some width, then the batsmen are ready. Eranga bowls one wide outside the off-stump and Kohli carts it through the off-side for four. India are gradually getting into their stride.
India 57/1 | Overs 16 | Rohit 19*, Kohli 19*
Mathews summons Lokuhettige. The batsmen merely work things around the park to take singles during that over. They seem to be more comfortable now, but there is a long way to go. Sri Lankan bowlers have bowled very well to keep things in check. This has been an even handed contest so far. The players will take drinks now.
India 51/1 | Overs 15 | Rohit 16*, Kohli 17*
Rohit dabs one down the off-side and sprints for a single. Dinesh Chandimal comes in and throws it at the stumps as it goes for overthrows. The next ball rises and hits Rohit again. The physio has come to assist.
Kohli gets an edge of the last ball and it flies to third-man, where Herath only dives over the ball as it goes for four. Fifty up for India.
Here is something about Jayawardene's record.
India 44/1 | Overs 14 | Rohit 13*, Kohli 13*
Malinga is persistent in that line outside the off-stump. Kohli can do nothing about it, but play quietly. This is a very good start by Sri Lanka as they are keeping Kohli and Rohit quiet. Just as I wrote that, Kohli smashes a widish delivery through the covers for four. That small margin for error for the bowler!!
India 40/1 | Overs 13 | Rohit 13*, Kohli 9*
Mathews takes himself off and brings back Eranga. Rohit gives him the charge, but an edge flies through to the third-man boundary. It is cut-off there by Rangana Herath. Eranga is also getting some bounce as Kohli misses one after running down the wicket.
India 38/1 | Overs 12 | Rohit 12*, Kohli 8*
Malinga bowls a very good over and keeps Kohli quiet for a change. He is bowling in a tight channel around the off-stump and Kohli has no option but to play them. However, he isn't able to get runs as Sri Lanka have fielders on the off-side. A maiden over for Malinga.
India 38/1 | Overs 11 | Rohit 12*, Kohli 8*
Mathews is bowling well here. He gets the first ball to climb on Kohli, who was shaping up to cut. He checks his shot and plays it to the ground. It is imperative that the batsmen watch him properly and Kohli is doing just that. Mathews is doing a good job and should continue bowling consistently.
There is a stroke of luck for Kohli as an inside edge misses his stumps and he gets a run in the process. The last ball climbs on Rohit and hits him. He seems to be in some pain there.
India 37/1 | Overs 10 | Rohit 12*, Kohli 7*
Lasith Malinga is into the attack. He is a dangerous bowler, but India have mastered the art of playing him well. Up against him is his nemesis, Virat Kohli. Rohit gets on strike as Kohli takes a single through mid-on. Jeevan Mendis drops a sitter at point. Rohit cuts a loose ball outside off-stump and was going straight to Mendis. The ball merely pops out of his hand as the batsmen run through for a single. Will this cost Sri Lanka?
India 34/1 | Overs 9 | Rohit 11*, Kohli 5*
Rohit guides one to third-man for a single. Mathews induces an edge which flies wide of second slip as the batsmen get through for a single. Rohit is as watchful as ever and sees the over off. There is some movement for Mathews and the batsmen have to watch the ball clearly.
India 32/1 | Overs 8 | Rohit 10*, Kohli 4*
Kohli gets off the mark with a typical flick through mid-wicket. Lokuhettige strays on the pads and Kohli merely guides it through the area. He makes amends and then holds a line outside the off-stump. Kohli lets them go through.
India 27/1 | Overs 7 | Rohit 9*, Kohli 0* OUT! Dhawan 15(16)
Angelo Mathews brings himself in and gets instant rewards. Dhawan dances down the track and only manages to edge it as Mahela Jayawardene completes the catch at second slip. This is Jayawardene's 200th catch in ODIs. Another milestone for the Sri Lankan great as he is the first non wicket-keeper to the mark.
Virat Kohli comes in and he has to guide India again. He plays out the over as Mathews gets a wicket maiden.
India 27/0 | Overs 6 | Rohit 9*, Dhawan 15*
Dhawan cuts and gets an edge. It flies over where second slip would have been and trickles into the boundary. The fielder there was nowhere close to it. Lokuhettige would be hoping for a wicket soon to celebrate his return.
India 21/0 | Overs 5 | Rohit 8*, Dhawan 10*
Dhawan gives Eranga the charge, but only manages a single towards mid-off. Dhawan plays a drive through the off again and sprints across for two. A good stop at the boundary to prevent a boundary.
India 17/0 | Overs 4 | Rohit 7*, Dhawan 7*
Umpire rules a no-ball. Rohit has a free-hit to face from Lokohettige.The free hit ball is full and Rohit makes room and smashes it through the covers for four.
India 12/0 | Overs 3 | Rohit 3*, Dhawan 7*
Dhawan gets into his stride with a drive through mid-off for four. They just work the singles around now and complete a decent over for India.
India 4/0 | Overs 2 | Rohit 2*, Dhawan 1*
Dilhara Lokuhettige, who is playing a One-Day International (ODI) after almost eight years is handed the ball. Dhawan gets off the mark with a single. Rohit too is off and running with a brace. Only three runs coming off that over. Decent start for Lokuhettige after all these years.
India 1/0 | Over 1 | Rohit 0*, Dhawan 0*
Shaminda Eranga begins proceedings and Rohit Sharma takes strike. Eranga bowls a wide as India get off the mark. He then follows it up with a good delivery and finishes the over without conceeding a run.
India have their fate in their hands. What will the toss of the coin bring about. Will India qualify into yet another final? Here is more.
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bowl first. India are unchanged coming into this game. Sri Lanka have made two changes as Rangana Herath and Dilhara Lokuhettige comes in.
Here are the two line-ups:
India: Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews (c), Lahiru Thirimanne, Dilhara Lokuhettige, Jeevan Mendis, Rangana Herath, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry's coverage of the sixth tri-series encounter between India and Sri Lanka at Port-of-Spain, Trinidad. I am Nishad Pai Vaidya and would take you through the contest.
This is a crunch encounter for Indias they have to win to get through to the final. Sri Lanka are comfortable as they have more or less confirmed their berth in the final. Meanwhile, West Indies can do nothing but watch this contest and hope Sri Lanka does the trick for them.
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