By IANS
Brisbane : Gautam Gambhir slammed his third century and Mahendra Singh Dhoni cracked 88 and their unbroken 184-run fifth wicket stand steered India to a healthy 267 for four in their 50 overs in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular Series One-Dayer against Sri Lanka here Tuesday.
Gambhir, who had an escape when wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara failed to latch on to a sharp chance at 11, struck an enthralling 102 off 101 balls.
The Delhi left-hander and Dhoni, who got his 88 off 95 balls, walked in at a time when India were in precarious position, having lost four wickets for 83 runs at the turn of the third power play. Two of these wickets fell in off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan’s first over.
Yuvraj Singh’s miserable tour with the bat continued even after the return from a knee injury when his expansive drive resulted in a slip-catch. Two balls later Rohit Sharma was sent back by umpire Rudi Koertzen as he adjudged the youngster caught behind though the replays did not suggest any snick.
Sharma’s wait in disbelief might invite the match referee’s ire and a punishment, though only Sangakkar went up in a vociferous appeal. The wicketkeeper, however, missed Ganmbhir off Ishara Amerasinghe despite a lunge to his left.
This is Gambhir’s second hundred against the Emerald Isles and it contained 10 fours and a six. Towards the close of the innings he and Dhoni launched a blistering attack to hammer 105 runs off the last 10 overs.
The Gambhir-Dhoni pair took control of the proceedings from the 21st over and paced the innings splendidly. The left-right combination unsettled the varied Sri Lankan attack. Vastly experienced Murali, who finished with two for 51, left-arm fast bowler Chaminda Vaas and left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya could make little impression on the two batsmen.
Gambhir, who has been in fabulous form both in international and domestic cricket, played strokes all round the wicket and tackled guileful Murali well. He reached his century off a short-arm pull off fast bowler Lasith Malinga.
Dhoni brought up his career’s 18th half-century with a six over long on off Jayasuriya. Three balls later, he reverse swept him for a boundary.
Earlier, Dhoni won the toss and decided to bat with rain forecast for the day. When Virender Sehwag (33, 39 balls, 2x4s, 1×6) and Sachin Tendulkar (35, 52 balls, 2x4s) gave a 68-run start it looked like a good decision.
But after Tendulkar, who crossed the 16,000-run mark in the ODIs, chopped a Lasith Malinga delivery on to his wickets trying to cut, there was that mini collapse as three batsmen were dismissed in quick time.
India’s first match, against Australia, had been abandoned here Sunday due to rain. Each team got two points.
The best-of-three finals will be played March 2, 4 and 7.