Dilshan left frustrated as Sri Lanka fall short in chase

India 414-7 Sri Lanka 411-8 <i>(India win by three runs)</i>

India secured victory in a thrilling finish to the first one-day international against Sri Lanka here yesterday, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Virender Sehwag hammered 146 off 102 deliveries and featured in century partnerships with Sachin Tendulkar (69) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (72) as his team made 414 for 7.

Sri Lanka replied in similar style with Tillakaratne Dilshan smashing 160 during stands with Upul Tharanga (67) and Kumar Sangakkara (90). Thilina Kandamby (24) and Angelo Mathews (38) got Sri Lanka close, but the hosts sneaked to victory by restricting the visitors to 411 for 8.

Dilshan had scored only one off the first seven deliveries he faced, but soon hit his stride by driving Ashish Nehra for three successive boundaries in the next over. India had again proved shoddy in the field, the first opportunity going down early when Virat Kohli grassed Tharanga on 10.

The left-hand opener went on to add 188 for the opening wicket before he was stumped by Dhoni off part-time spinner Suresh Raina. Sangakkara took up the chase as he raised a half-century off just 24 deliveries.

He was dropped by Harbhajan Singh on 58 and went on to add 128 for the second wicket when he mistimed a pull off Praveen Kumar and ended up presenting Ravindra Jadeja with a simple catch at deep square leg .

Sri Lanka needed a further 99 from 81 deliveries at that stage, but Harbhajan, who had conceded only 17 from his first five overs, removed Sanath Jayasuriya and Dilshan in quick succession. Mahela Jayawardene was run out cheaply, but Kandamby and Mathews put the chase back on track with a 56-run stand for the sixth wicket. Kandamby was then run out and Thilan Samaraweera followed him leaving Sri Lanka needing 11 off the last over which proved too much.