CricInfo Home
News Home

NEWS FOCUS
Rsa in Pak
NZ in India
Zim in Aus

Domestic
Other Series

Sri Lanka in thrilling two-run win over India

World Champions Sri Lanka pulled off a sensational two-run win over India in the first one-day international played under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday despite a world record fifth wick- et stand of 223 between Mohamed Azharuddin and Ajay Jadeja, who both hit centuries.

Set on imposing victory target of 303 in 50 overs India fin- ished on 300 for 7 when overs ran out.

India looked out of the running after losing their first four wickets for 64 runs in the 11th over.

After a 35-minute break for rain Azharuddin with 111 off 117 balls (five fours) and Jadeja with 119 in 121 balls (one six, eight fours) put on 223 for the fifth wicket to take India closer to the victory target. The stand beat the previous highest of 159 by Aus- tralians Ricky Ponting and Michael Bevan against Sri Lanka in Melbourne in 1995-96.

Jadeja was out in the penultimate over hitting back a full toss from Chaminda Vaas and Azharuddin wras left to score five runs off the last delivery bowled by Sanath Jayasuriya. He man- aged only two runs and Sri Lanka ran out winners marginally to take a one-nil lead in the series.