Dainik Nation News Portal
Following their 3-0 Test series sweep, India whitewashed the Lankans 5-0 in the ODIs with a six-wicket victory. Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front, hitting back-to-back centuries to equal Ricky Ponting’s 30 ODI hundreds, after Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to bowl out the hosts for 238 in 49.2 overs.
Sri Lanka managed to post their highest total of the series, but it was far from sufficient as India got to 239 for 4 in 46.3 overs. Kohli, who also became the highest ODI run-getter this year, held fort after India lost openers Ajinkya Rahane – playing his first match of the ODI series, in place of Shikhar Dhawan – and Rohit Sharma cheaply.
Kohli and Jadhav took India to the doorstep of victory with a 109-run fourth-wicket stand before the allrounder was caught behind by Niroshan Dickwella off leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for 63 (73b, 7×4), with the visitors needing just two runs for victory. Kohli remained unbeaten on 110 (116 balls, 9×4). Earlier the Lankans got a partnership going, for a change, when Lahiru Thirimanne and Angelo Mathews added 122 for the fourth wicket after the start of the match was delayed by half an hour due to rain.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni, with Akila Dananjaya’s stumping in the fifth ODI, created cricket history. He became the first wicketkeeper to complete a century of stumpings in ODIs, bettering Kumar Sangakkara’s tally of 99.
