15 December,2009 10:16 PM IST | | IANS
India stopped Sri Lanka three runs short of a sensational big-ticket run-chase to win the first One-day International here Tuesday.
India's highest ODI total of 414/7 built around Virender Sehwag's blazing 146 was under threat of being overhauled with Tillakaratne Dilshan (160) and skipper Kumar Sangakkara (90) leading the Sri Lankan counter-charge, before the hosts snatched the victory in the final over.
Sri Lanka needed 11 runs off six balls to complete the second biggest run-chase in ODI history, but Ashish Nehra (1-81) held his nerve to deny the visitors the dream win.
Zaheer Khan bowled a brilliant second-last over, giving away just four runs as India effected two run outs -- Thilina Kandamby (24) and Thilan Samaraweera -- which pegged the visitors back.
Barring the final few overs, Indian fielders' sloppy catching had almost cost them the match before Harbhajan Singh (2-58) brought them back, dismissing dangerous Dilshan in the 40th over. Dilshan struck 20 fours and three sixes in his 124-ball innings.
Virat Kohli dropped the easiest of chances throwing a lifeline to Upul Tharanga (67). Openers Tharanga and Dilshan were in rampaging form and blasted 188 runs in 23.6 overs.
Sangakkara then came with a misson and smashed 90 off just 43 balls with 10 fours and five sixes. Sri Lanka were crusing to the target with Sangakkara and Dilshan dealing only in fours and sixes, hitting the Indian bowlers at will.
But Sangakkara's dismissal, after he added 128 runs with Dilshan, triggered a mini-collapse.
Sri Lanka lost four quick wickets and India made their way back into the match.
Kandamby and Angelo Mathews (38) brought Sri Lanka back with a 56-run stand before Indian bowlers came back to strike crucial blows as Sri Lanka could reach 411/8.
This is the second instance when both teams have recorded 400-plus in the same ODI.
The first instance was in the Johannesburg on March 12, 2006, when Australia made 434/4 and South Africa 438 for 9 in response at the Wanderers ground.
Other statistical highlights of the match:
# The Rajkot game has produced 825 runs for the loss of 15 wickets in 100 overs, which is the second highest in limited-overs Internationals - the highest being the 872 for 13 in the Johannesburg game.
# Sri Lanka became the first team to post a total of 400 or more against India in ODIs.
# India (414/7) have registered their highest total in ODIs, bettering the 413 for five against Bermuda in the World Cup at Port of Spain March 19, 2007.
# India's total is the fifth highest in ODIs - the top four being Sri Lanka's 443 for 9 against Netherlands; South Africa's 438 for 9 against Australia; Australa's 434 for four against South Africa and South Africa's 418 for 5 against Zimbabwe.
# India, South Africa and Sri Lanka have posted two totals of 400 each.
# India's total of 414 for seven is the highest by any team against Sri Lanka. The previous highest against Sri Lanka was also scored by India - 373 for six at Taunton May 26, 1999.
# Virender Sehwag's 12th century in ODIs is his second against Sri Lanka.
# Sehwag (146 off 102 balls) has posted his career-best innings - his previous highest being 130 against New Zealand.
# Sehwag has recorded five centuries while batting at number one; six centuries at number two and the remaining one at one-down.
# Sachin Tendulkar and Sehwag have recorded 153 - India's best against Sri Lanka at Rajkot and the fourth partnership of 100 or more at this venue for India.
# Sehwag and Dhoni have shared a stand of 156 - the best for the second wicket at Rajkot, eclipsing the 109 between Nathan Astle and Roger Twose for New Zealand against India on November 5, 1999.
# For the fifth time, an Indian pair has recorded a 150-plus stand for the second wicket against Sri Lanka - the best being the 318 between Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid at Taunton on May 26, 1999.
# For the first time in ODIs, two partnerships of 150 or more have been recorded for the first two wickets.
# Dhoni has become the eighth Indian to complete 5,000 runs in ODIs, joining Sachin Tendulkar (17247), Sourav Ganguly (11363), Rahul Dravid (10765), Mohammad Azharuddin (9378), Yuvraj Singh (7226), Virender Sehwag (6876) and Ajay Jadeja (5359).
# Dhoni (5026) is the fourth wicketkeeper to make 5,000 runs as wicketkeeper-batsman, joining Adam Gilchrist (9410), Kumar Sangakkara (6767) and Andy Flower (5845).
# Dhoni is the only wicketkeeper to have averaged 50.00 (50.26) apart from making 5000 runs in 152 ODIs.
# Dhoni's aggregate of 1091 (ave.68.18) in 27 matches is the third best in 2009. Only two Australians have amassed more than Dhoni - Ricky Ponting (1198) and Michael Hussey (1166).
# Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga's 188-run stand is Sri Lanka's highest against India for the first wicket.
# Dilshan has posted his first century against India, his fourth in ODIs.
# Dilshan has recorded his best ever innings - 160 off 124 balls - the second highest score for Sri Lanka - the highest being 189 by Sanath Jayasuriya against India at Sharjah on October 29, 2000.
# Dilshan's 73-ball century is the fastest by a Sri Lankan player against India, surpassing Sanath Jayasuriya's 79-ball century at Karachi on July 6, 2008.
# Tharanga has recorded his 12th fifty in ODIs - his second against India.
# Dhoni, with two stumpings, has taken his tally to 51 and became the fifth wicketkeeper to effect 50 stumpings in limited-overs internationals, joining Romesh Kaluwitharana (75), Moin Khan (73), Kumar Sangakkara (64) and Adam Gilchrist (55).
# Dhoni has become the first Indian wicketkeeper and the ninth to complete 200 dismissals (149 catches + 51 dismissals) or more and became the third wicketkeeper after Adam Gilchrist (Australia) and Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) to complete the double of 5000 runs and 200 dismissals.
# Kumar Sangakkara (90 off 43 balls) has recorded his 50th fifty in ODIs - his 8th against India.
# Sangakkara's innings is his highest as captain - his second fifty. His previous fifty as captain was 54 against South Africa at Centurion on September 22, 2009.
# Sehwag's 66-ball century is the quickest by an Indian against Sri Lanka.
# Tendulkar is the first player to appear in 600 international matches.
# India have won the game by three runs - their narrowest victory margin against Sri Lanka in India.
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