FIRST WIN FOR INDIA IN TRI SERIES

Kohli, Ashwin star as India trump Sri Lanka

Chasing a target of 234, Kohli and Ashwin led India to their first win of the CB Series.

By Akshay Iyer !!

Ashwin celebrates after dismissing Chandimal. (Hamish Blair/Getty Images)

Two stars of the future - India's Virat Kohli and Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal - proved yet again that they will be at the centre of their respective countries' batting line-up for years to come. But, it was Kohli, who finished on the winning side in the second match of the Commonwealth Bank Series at the WACA Ground in Perth today as India, chasing a target of 234, beat Sri Lanka by four wickets. 

Kohli led the run chase after the early dismissal of Virender Sehwag, and though he couldn't see India home, he had put his team on the road to victory with his 94-ball 77. 

Sehwag, who was rested for the match against Australia, slashed at a wide and short ball from Lasith Malinga but only managed to guide the catch to Nuwan Kulasekara at third man. Kohli and Sachin Tendulkar then got India's run chase back on track with their 75-run partnership for the second wicket. 

Tendulkar hit five boundaries in his 63-ball 48, and looked comfortable against all the Sri Lankan bowlers, before he chopped a ball from Angelo Mathews on to the stumps. Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and India captain MS Dhoni failed to contribute too much to the chase, but despite wickets tumbling at the other end, Kohli kept his composure and was as cool as a cucumber. Rohit was brilliantly caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan at point, while Raina yet again fell to the short delivery as he became Mathews' second victim of the match. Dhoni was also done in by a short ball from Dhammika Prasad and his woeful attempt at playing the pull shot only went as far as Malinga at wide mid on, who took a good catch running back.

Kohli added to his growing reputation with a calculated knock which included 31 singles, 4 twos, 8 boundaries and one massive six. He didn't look in any kind of discomfort against any of the Sri Lankan bowlers, and it was his mix of caution and aggression that set India firmly on the path to victory. Kohli though was troubled by cramps towards the end of his innings and was run out while attempting a risky single when Malinga hit the stumps directly from mid on. He was unable to get up after his dismissal and had to be helped off the ground.

At the time of his dismissal, India needed 53 runs to win with four wickets in hand, but Man of the Match RVirat Kohli pulls during his 94-ball 77. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images) Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja batted sensibly as India finished the run chase in the 47th over. Ashwin remained unbeaten on 30 off 38 deliveries, with Jadeja remaining not out on 24 off 28 balls. Mathews was the most successful Sri Lankan bowler, but Malinga, Prasad and Thisara Perera failed to make much of an impression. 

while Sehwag and Zaheer Khan came in for Gautam Gambhir and the injured Rahul Sharma respectively for India. 






source (yahoo cricket)