India draw level in Dambulla

Zaheer: Devastating opening spell

Related links

Teams

• India
• Sri Lanka

Also see

• Play Fantasy Cricket
• Sky Sports experts
• Live scores

India drew level with Sri Lanka in the one-day series courtesy of a tense three-wicket victory in the second match in Dambulla.

Zaheer Khan claimed 4-42 to dismantle the home side's top order before Thilan Thushara led a tail end recovery to get the final total up to 142.

Despite being set such a small target India struggled at the start of their reply, losing their first two wickets with only 16 runs on the board.

However, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept a level head to make 39, putting on 60 for the sixth wicket with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath, who scored a composed 27 not out on debut.

Destructive spell

The victory had been set up by a destructive opening spell from Zaheer that saw him claim the top four Sri Lankan batsmen in the order.

The left-arm paceman bowled opener Kumar Sangakkara for just two in his opening over and then in his second had home skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who had led the hosts to a comprehensive victory in the series opener, caught.

Just two balls later he struck again, Chamara Kapugedera caught behind without scoring to leave the score on 10-3.

It got even worse for Sri Lanka when just one run later India's other opening bowler Praveen Kumar, replacing spinner Pragyan Ojha in the team, dismissed Chamara Silva for a duck on his way to figures of 3-34.

Sanath Jayasuriya had witnessed the carnage unfold at the other end but could do little to repair the damage, Zaheer returning to trap the opener lbw having made just 13 from 37 balls.

After Tillakaratne Dilshan followed soon after to make it 44-6 it was left to Thushara to try and rescue the dire situation with a 46-ball knock that included seven fours. Nuwan Kulasekara chipped in with 25.

Double blow

Despite the late efforts by the Sri Lankan lower order India would have started their reply confident of knocking off the runs, only to be two down after 26 balls.

Virat Kohli (37) and Yuvraj Singh (20) made sure there was no top-order collapse though before Dhoni came out at number five to play a pivotal innings in such a low-scoring contest.

The right-hander managed just three fours in 54 balls but crucially made sure his side didn't succumb to the pressure put on by Sri Lanka's bowlers.

Although he wasn't quite able to see his team over the finishing line, Dilhara Fernando bowling him just eight runs short, Badrinath showed a cool head to see India home.

Munaf fine

India's day ended on a slightly sour note as paceman Munaf Patel was fined 75 percent of his match fee after being found guilty of using abusive language towards an umpire at a post-match hearing.

Munaf was found guilty of a level two offence by match referee Chris Broad for remarks he made to umpire Gamini Silva when the official turned down an lbw appeal. He has the right to appeal within 24 hours.