COLOMBO, SRI LANKA // Gautam Gambhir cracked a century and Suresh Raina smashed a brisk 65 not out to power India to a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international at the Premadasa Stadium.
Opener Gambhir hit an impressive 102 for his 11th one-day hundred and Raina hammered one six and six fours in his 45-ball knock as India achieved a stiff 287-run target with two balls to spare for a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Sri Lanka's woes were compounded when their key wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara was ruled out for four to six weeks with a fractured finger while batting.
"Sangakkara will not take further part in the series," Charith Senanayake, the Sri Lanka team manager, said after the batsman was hit on the hand by a delivery from paceman Ashok Dinda.
India lost Virender Sehwag early but captain MS Dhoni moved up the order to the number four position to steady the ship. Gambhir anchored the innings as he added 105 for the second wicket with Virat Kohli (38) and 67 for the next with Dhoni (31) before being run out in the 39th over.
Before his departure, Lasith Malinga had rocked the innings with two wickets in as many balls, removing Dhoni and Rohit Sharma for a duck.
Raina and Irfan Pathan, however, added 92 runs in 11.1 overs to steer India home.
Needing six runs to win in the last over, bowled by seamer Angelo Mathews, Pathan (34 not out) completed the victory with a boundary to finish the game.
Sri Lanka were struggling at 20 for three when Sangakkara (73) along with captain Mahela Jayawardene (65) and Mathews (71 not out) helped Sri Lanka recover before Sangakkara was taken to hospital for a scan.
Mathews and Jeevan Mendis (45 not out) plundered 104 runs in the last 12 overs to help their side set a challenging target. Mathews cracked one six and five fours in a 57-ball knock, while Mendis hit one six and three fours.
The target of 287 was the highest successful run chase against Sri Lanka on their home turf.
* Agencies