Dilshan stars in Canberra

Sri Lanka chase rain-reduced target for first win of CB Series

Last updated: 12th February 2008

Tillakaratne Dlshan Sri Lanka V India CB Series Feb 12 08

Dilshan: 62 from 59 balls

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Tillakaratne Dilshan struck an unbeaten 62 to guide Sri Lanka to their first victory of the CB Series with an eight-wicket win over India in Canberra.

Chasing a revised target of 154 from 21 overs, opening batsman Dilshan shared an unbroken third-wicket stand of 85 with Mahela Jayawardene to see his side home.

India posted a total of 195-5 after being asked to bat first in a match that was initally reduced to 29 overs due to heavy rain in the morning.

Number four Rohit Sharma top scored with an unbeaten 70, and shared stands of 64 with Gautam Gambhir (35) and 68 with Mahendra Singh Dhoni (31).

That built on an opening partnership of 45 in 7.3 overs by Virender Sehwag (14) and Sachin Tendulkar (32).

A further 40-minute rain delay during the innings break left Sri Lanka with 21 overs to chase 154, a task they had little difficulty achieving.

Jayasuriya burst

Sanath Jayasuriya took the long handle to Shantha Sreesanth's opening two overs, which went for a combined 34 runs to ensure the required rate was always under control.

Jayasuriya's 13-ball cameo of 27 ended when he was caught behind from a miscued attempt to pull Ishant Sharma (1-26), but India's only other success came when Harbhajan Singh had Kumar Sangakkara (10) caught at mid-on with his first delivery.

After coming together with the score on 69-2, Dilshan combined with his captain Jayawardene (36no) to ensure Sri Lanka got across the winning line with 12 balls to spare.

India stay top of the CB Series table with eight points from four matches, Sri Lanka remain bottom on six points from three, one behind hosts Australia who have also played three matches.

The triangular competition continues on Friday at the WACA, Perth when Australia take on Sri Lanka in a day-nighter.