Dhoni settles India's nerves

Mahendra Singh Dhoni adds 60 for the sixth wicket with Subramaniam Badrinath

Buy this photo

A fighting knock from India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped his side to a three-wicket win in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka to level the series.

The tourists were set a modest victory target of 143 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium after left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan tore through Sri Lanka’s top order with four wickets.

But India made heavy going of overhauling the small total and were at one stage teetering on 75 for five.

However, Dhoni (39) combined with debutant Subramaniam Badrinath (27 not out) in a stand of 60 for the sixth wicket as the tourists got over the line with 10.2 overs to spare.

India’s reply had begun in the worst possible fashion as they lost two wickets in the five overs possible before lunch.

Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara removed makeshift opener Irfan Pathan, caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara for five, and Suresh Raina, leg before for one.

That left India 17 for two at the break, although Yuvraj Singh and Virat Kohli steadied the ship following the resumption with a patient 36-run stand before Ajantha Mendis trapped Yuvraj in front for 20.

Left-arm medium-pacer Thilan Thushara struck twice in the 20th over, removing Kohli (37) and Rohit Sharma to leave India reeling.

Kohli, who had opened the innings along with Pathan, threw away his wicket with a loose drive, while Sharma was unlucky to be adjudged lbw.

Dhoni and Badrinath, however, saw off the spin threat from Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan as they hauled India out of trouble with their stand of 60 coming from 95 balls.

Kumar Sangakkara falls cheaply as Sri Lanka are bowled out for a meagre 142

Buy this photo

When the stand was finally brought to an end, with Dilhara Fernando bowling Dhoni, the tourists needed just eight runs to win.

And while there was still time for India to lose another wicket - Harbhajan Singh fell victim to Mendis - Badrinath kept his head to steer his side home.

Earlier, Dhoni won his second toss in a row and chose to field first, admitting it was a decision forced on him given his inexperienced top order.

But Zaheer got his side off to a flying start when took the prize scalp of Sangakkara for two in his first over, getting a ball to cut back and clip the top of off stump.

The left-armer struck twice in his next over, dismissing Mahela Jayawardene and Chamara Kapugedera - the two batsmen who had led Sri Lanka to an eight-wicket victory in the first ODI - cheaply.

Jayawardene edged an angled delivery from Zaheer to Yuvraj, who was stationed in the unfamiliar position of first slip, and he held on after juggling the chance.

The left-arm bowler then induced a faint edge from Kapugedera, leaving Sri Lanka reeling on 10 for three.

Praveen Kumar removed Chamara Silva without scoring as wickets continued to fall and Zaheer returned to pin Sanath Jayasuriya lbw for 13.

Thushara and Kulasekara then contributed handsomely with the bat, giving the Sri Lanka total a touch of respectability with a 74-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Thushara hit 44 off just 46 deliveries, while Kulasekara made a battling 25.

Praveen, however, came back in his second spell to claim the wickets of both, while Pathan picked up the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan (16) in his first over as Sri Lanka were bowled out in 38.3 overs.

To sour India's victory slightly, Munaf Patel was fined 75 per cent of his match fee for remarks he made to umpire Gamini Silva after the official turned down an lbw appeal.