Kohli bangs up unconquered ton for India and claims critical bonus point in tri-series

    Chasing a stiff target of 321 in 40 overs to take the bonus point, India, powered by an outstanding century from Virat Kohli pulled off an incredible win at the Bellerive Oval on Tuesday to keep alive their hopes of making the CB Series finals.

    In with an outside chance to book a place in the best of three final of the series, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had no hestitation in bowling first after winning the toss today, as India needed to chase down Sri Lanka’s target inside 40 overs to avail a bonus point and stay afloat in the competition.

    Dilshan equaled his career-best score with an unbeaten 160, his 11th century in 230 ODIs and first in a year, while Sangakkara made a quickfire 105 to register the 13th century of his career. Sent into bat, Dilshan anchored Sri Lanka’s innings and hit 11 fours and three huge sixes during his 165-ball unbeaten stay. Sangakkara, on the other hand, was at his destructive best, piling up his 105 runs off just 87 balls with eight boundaries and two huge hits over the fence. Dilshan and Sangakkara got together after the 12th over and maneuvered the score till the 44th over, putting together exactly 200 runs for the second wicket, the biggest stand of the series so far.

    Kohli raced to his hundred in just 76 balls, hitting 10 boundaries and a six. India lost Gautam Gambhir (63) after he added 115 runs for the third wicket with Kohli as they kept India’s chances of earning bonus point alive at Bellerive Oval in Hobart. Gambhir and Kohli also completed unbeaten 100 runs stand for the third wicket which was the first hundred runs stand for India in the tri-series. The pair raced to their century stand in just 89 balls. After losing Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar in quick succession, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli took India past 100 runs in 11.1 overs. Master blaster Tendulkar, played handy knock of 39 runs, hitting five fours in his 30 balls stay at the crease. India got off to blistering chase with Sehwag and Sachin putting 54 runs in just 38 deliveries for the first wicket.

    Ravindra Jadeja gave India first breakthrough when skipper Mahela Jayawardene went for late cut but got inside edge that went to the first slip where Virender Sehwag showed good reflexes and pouched it safely. Senior paceman Zaheer Khan returned to the Indian team in place of injured Irfan Pathan while Sri Lanka retained the same playing eleven. Sri Lanka got off to a steady start as Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan have added 49 runs in 12 overs for the opening wicket after being sent into bat first.

    India would not only need a win with a bonus point to remain alive but also hope that Australia would somehow prevail over Lanka in the last league match on Melbourne on March 2.