Mendis, Gunathilaka anchored the record chase to keep SL alive

ICC Champions Trophy, 8th Match, Group B: India v Sri Lanka at Kennington Oval, Jun 8, 2017

 

India v Sri Lanka

 India 321/6 (50ov) RG Sharma 78 off 79, 6 fours, 3 sixes, S Dhawan 125 off 128, 15 fours, 1 six, MS Dhoni 63 off 52, 7 fours, 2 sixes, SL Malinga 70-2, RAS Lakmal 72-1, N Pradeep 73-1, NLTC Perera 54-1, DAS Gunaratne 7-1.

 Sri Lanka 322/3 (48.4 ov) MD Gunathilaka 76 off 72, 7 fours, 2 sixes, BKG Mendis 89 off 93, 11 fours, 1 six, MDKJ Perera 47 off 44, 5 fours, AD Mathews 52 not out off 45, 6 fours, B Kumar 54-1

 Sri Lanka won by 7 wickets with 8 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field. The target of 322 chased by Sri Lanka in this game, is the joint-biggest in ODIs. They had chased down the same target against England at Headingley in 2006.

Although India’s batting went perfectly as planned but Sri Lanka’s pursuit to keep them alive was much stronger. Kusal Mendis hit 89 and Danushka Gunathilaka hit 76 off 72. Kusal Perera and Angelo Mathews saw the chase home.

Earlier Shikhar Dhawan hit a smooth 125, Rohit Sharma 78 and MS Dhoni 63 off 52 balls late in the innings. Indian openers had put on 138 and set their team on track to what could have been a unassailable totel. Sri Lanka by winning this match they have completed their ninth successful 300- plus chase away from home, India are second, with eight. With this win also Sri Lanka have now blown their group wide open, with each of the final two matches set to be virtual quarter finals.