Sri Lanka just failed in a gallant attempt to pull off a sensational victory over India in the first one day international at Rajkot. Chasing an Indian total of 246 in 50 overs at an asking rate of 4.92 runs an over the Sri Lankans were in the hunt right up to the end. Aravinda de Silva (69) led the charge but gradually the wickets began to fall and a target of 16 from the last over proved too much as the tourists lost by seven runs. Indian opener Navjot Sidhu was man of the match with a superb 108.

Thanks to goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk)

Navjot Sidhu, the dashing Indian opener, hammered 108 to help India beat Sri Lanka by 8 runs at Rajkot's Municipal grounds. Put into bat first, India scored 246 for five off 50 overs. Prabhakar provided a good support to sidhu and scored 67 before being the 1st of the three run outs.

Sri lanka put up a good fight by scoring 238 for 8 before they ran out of overs. Aravinda de Silva score an agressive 69 which came of 85 balls. Jayasuriya and De silva put on 63 for the fifth wicket partnership before jaysuriya was out of Kumble. Kumble, by far was India's successful bowler taking 3-41 which also included a vital wicket of de Silva whom he bowled out with a flipper. Sri Lanka, needing 16 runs off the last over could manage only 8 as Srinath clean bowled Wickremasinghe and Kalpage. This was Sidhu's 4th one day century which earned him the man of the match award.

Thanks to Pranav.Shah (shah@umdsun2.umd.umich.edu)