Commonwealth Bank Series, 2008 (Australia)

India vs Sri Lanka, ODI

What a fantastic performance this has been by the Indian skipper. Somebody who has the reputation of being a devastating butcher, scores a half century and that too without a single boundary or a six. This is incredible!!! This is one of the best knocks Dhoni has played and this has really shown that he is maturing as a cricketer. It was a battle of nerves towards the end and India came up trumps. Spare a thought for the Lankans who did a pretty good job both with the bat and the ball but in the end, the Indians were just a shade better today. Now Sri Lanka need to win the next match to stay alive in this competition and their next match is against Australia in a couple of day's time. Till then it is good bye and good night from all of us. Adios...

Kumar Sangakkara is the Man of the Match for his sterling innings that had given Sri Lanka a chance to win on this good batting wicket. His score of 128 off 155 balls alongwith captain Jayawardene's 71 was chiefly instrumental for them to get to 238.

India win by 2 wickets!!!

49.1 Maharoof to Dhoni, 2 runs, short of length delivery outside the off stump, Dhoni goes on the backfoot and cuts it square of the wicket, that is superbly placed and he is scampering back for the second, gets there, India have won and that is Dhoni's 19th ODI FIFTY!!

This seems to be an interesting move, Mahela has thrown the ball towards Maharoof. He could have so easily asked Jayasuriya to bowl the last over, Jayasuriya has done it in the past and that too against Dhoni. This just might be a tactical blunder.

49.1 Maharoof to Dhoni, wide, good length delivery outside the off stump on that occasion, Dhoni comes down the track and looks to slap it on the off, misses, wide signalled by umpire Tony Hill and the Sri Lankans can't believe it, that is a tough call from him

48.6 Malinga to Ishant, no run, yorker length delivery on the stumps, Ishant comes on the frontfoot and digs it out to square leg, straight to the fielder, he keeps that one out, excellent over from Malinga, WICKET MAIDEN!!

48.5 Malinga to Ishant, no run, fuller length delivery outside the off stump, Ishant comes on the frontfoot and looks to drive, outside edges that to gully

Ishant Sharma, right handed bat, comes to the crease

Malinga to Harbhajan, out Lbw!! Malinga fires it full and straight on the stumps, Harbhajan comes on the frontfoot and looks to dig out the fantastic yorker, misses it and he is trapped plumb in front, do not go anywhere till the Slinger is in action Harbhajan lbw b Malinga 3(6)

48.3 Malinga to Harbhajan, no run, fuller length delivery outside the off stump, Harbhajan comes on the frontfoot and digs it out to point, straight to the fielder

48.2 Malinga to Harbhajan, leg byes, FOUR!!, yorker length delivery straying down the leg side on that occasion, Harbhajan shuffles across and looks to glance it down, off the pads to fine leg, that is racing away and it goes all the way for four leg byes!!!

48.1 Malinga to Harbhajan, no run, fuller length delivery on the off, fast and accurate, Harbhajan comes on the frontfoot and looks to defend, rapped on the pads, HUGE APPEAL!! for lbw, that was close but umpire Peter Parker is not interested

Lasith Malinga is back into the attack and this his last over

47.4 Amerasinghe to Praveen Kumar, out Caught by Jayawardene at gully!! Amerasinghe digs it in short on that occasion, Praveen Kumar goes on the backfoot and looks to pull it away, the ball is too quick for him and gets big on him, top edge and a simple catch for the Sri Lankan skipper, it is not over yet Praveen Kumar c Jayawardene b Amerasinghe 5(8)

47.3 Amerasinghe to Praveen Kumar, no run, back of a length delivery angling into the right hander, Praveen Kumar goes on the backfoot, gets right behind and defends it solidly on the off 47.2 Amerasinghe to Dhoni, 1 run, fuller length delivery on the middle and leg on that occasion, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot and turns it to square leg for a quick single

The asking rate is nothing extraordinary and the Indians don't need to do anything stupid here. They need only 12 from 18 balls and that shouldn't be a tough job if they hold their nerves well here at this stage.

47.1 Amerasinghe to Praveen Kumar, 1 run, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Praveen Kumar goes on the backfoot and cuts it to deep backward point, easy single on that occasion

46.5 Maharoof to Praveen Kumar, no run, good length delivery outside the off stump, Praveen Kumar goes on the backfoot, opens the face of the bat and plays that to gully, straight to the fielder again

46.4 Maharoof to Praveen Kumar, no run, fuller length delivery on the off, Praveen Kumar comes on the frontfoot and pushes it to cover, straight to the fielder

46.2 Maharoof to Dhoni, no run, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Dhoni goes on the backfoot and looks to slap it on the off, misses

46.1 Maharoof to Praveen Kumar, 3 runs, good length delivery on the stumps, Praveen Kumar comes on the frontfoot, gets underneath it and heaves it straight down the ground, up and over the bowler's head

Farveez Maharoof is back into the attack

45.6 Amerasinghe to Dhoni, 2 runs, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Dhoni goes on the backfoot, gets on top of the ball and cuts it square of the wicket, good running between wickets again

45.5 Amerasinghe to Dhoni, 2 runs, fuller length delivery on the middle and leg, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot, closes the face of the bat and flicks it away to deep mid wicket, good effort from Malinga in the deep but can't stop the second, excellent running

Now is this the turn of the tide? Ishara Amerasinghe has come up with the goods, this was a wreckless shot from Pathan. It seemed like a slight lapse in concentration and that slightest of error has once again turned the tables in this contest. Lanka back into the contest as the young man Praveen Kumar comes out to bat in a pressure cooker situation.

Amerasinghe to Pathan, out Bowled!! Amerasinghe comes round the wicket to the left hander, good length delivery angling into the left hander, Pathan stays rooted at the crease and looks to tonk it on the leg side, misses the line of the ball completely, a lot of gap between bat and pad and the ball hits the off stump, now is this a twist in the tale!!! Pathan b Amerasinghe 31(41) [4s-4]

Praveen Kumar, right handed bat, comes to the crease

45.1 Amerasinghe to Dhoni, no run, back of a length delivery outside the off stump, Dhoni goes on the backfoot and looks to cut it away, misses

44.6 Malinga to Pathan, no run, full toss outside the off stump, angling away from the left hander, Pathan comes on the frontfoot and drives it to cover, straight to the fielder

Ishara Amerasinghe is back into the attack

44.5 Malinga to Pathan, no run, fuller length delivery on the off, Pathan comes on the frontfoot and looks to drive on the off, edges it and Dilshan makes a great stop at point

44.5 Malinga to Pathan, wide, way way outside the off stump on that occasion

44.4 Malinga to Pathan, no run, good length delivery outside the off stump, Pathan comes on the frontfoot and pushes it to cover, straight to the fielder

44.3 Malinga to Dhoni, 1 run, attempted yorker goes wrong on that occasion, full toss on the middle and leg, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot and glances it to backward square leg

44.2 Malinga to Dhoni, no run, fuller length delivery on the stumps, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot and pushes it back to the bowler

44.1 Malinga to Pathan, 1 run, yorker length delivery on the off, Pathan comes on the frontfoot and looks to dig it out, outside edge runs it down to third man

43.6 Muralitharan to Dhoni, no run, flattish delivery on the stumps, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot and pushes it back to the bowler, end of a fine spell from Muralitharan

43.5 Muralitharan to Dhoni, no run, over the wicket to the right hander now, flighted delivery on the off, Dhoni comes on the frontfoot and looks to defend, this one goes the other way and beats the outside edge

43.4 Muralitharan to Dhoni, no run, short of length delivery outside the off stump on that occasion, Dhoni goes on the backfoot and looks to cut it away, mistimes it to cover