OTD: India, Sri Lanka lock horns in 800-plus run ODI thriller

December 15, 2009 will always be remembered for a run-fest at the Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Ground in Rajkot. The first of the five-match ODIs between India and Sri Lanka turned out to be one for the ages. Both teams scored totals in addition to 400. The hosts ended up winning the match by three runs.

Put in to bat first, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar added 153 for the first wicket before the latter was dismissed in the 20th over. MS Dhoni, coming in at No. 3, stitched a rapid 156-run stand off 98 balls to take the total past 300. Sehwag and Dhoni departed in quick succession after scoring 146 off 102 and 72 off 53, respectively.

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja’s cameos helped India go past 400. They ended up posting 414/7 in their quota of 50 overs. Nuwan Kulasekara, Chanaka Welegedara and Dilhara Fernando picked up a couple of wickets apiece. A total of 27 extras were conceded throughout the first innings.

The Lankans started off the steep run-chase in fine style. Through the opening batters’ combined efforts, Sri Lanka got past 150 in the 20th over itself. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakka did not stop batting at a high tempo after Upul Tharanga was the first batter to get dismissed. The Lankans lost half their side by the 41st over.

The run-outs of Thilina Kandamby and Thilan Samaraweera in the penultimate over tilted the balance of the contest once again. Angelo Mathews’ dismissal on the fourth ball of the final over of the match did the trick for India. Ashish Nehra managed to maintain composure to deliver a stunning overall last over to win it for India.

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