India, Sri Lanka ODI washed out

SYDNEY—Torrential rain forced the abandonment of Tuesday’s tri-series limited-overs match between Sri Lanka and India at the Gabba in Brisbane.
It was the second match in a row that had fallen victim to the foul weather after Sunday’s opening game between India and Australia was also washed out.
Tuesday’s match was abandoned at the halfway stage. India had made an impressive total of 267 from their 50 overs but Sri Lanka never got the chance to reply as the heavens opened, ruining what promised to be a classic match. Gautam Gambhir and Mahendra Singh Dhoni had shared a 184-run partnership to save India from a top-order batting collapse with an inspired display of hitting.
Gambir made the most of an early let off to smash an unbeaten 102 while Dhoni finished on 88 not out after the pair guided India to an impressive total at the Gabba in Brisbane. India, whose opening match against Australia was washed out on Sunday, looked to be in early trouble when they lost four wickets for 15 runs to slump to 83-4 in the 21st over.
Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag had given the Indians a flying start when they piled on 68 runs in the first 14 overs before Sri Lanka hit back. Lasith Malinga bowled Tendulkar for 35 before Sehwag fell for 33, caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara off Ishara Amerasinghe.
Muttiah Muralitharan then captured two wickets in his first over, Yuvraj Singh for two and Rohit Sharma for a duck, leaving India in disarray. Gambhir and Dhoni made a slow start as they steadily rebuilt the innings before a late flurry saw them pile on 105 runs from the last 10 overs. Gambhir, who survived a dropped catch from Sangakkara when he was on 11, hit 10 boundaries and a six and reached his third one-day international hundred in the last over, off 99 balls. Dhoni, who completed his 18th one-day half-century, struck five fours and one six in his 95-ball innings.
The series moves to Sydney for Friday’s clash between Australia and Sri Lanka, a repeat of last year’s World Cup final. India’s next match is against Australia in Melbourne on Sunday. The second match in the triangular one-day cricket series was abandoned here when heavy rain meant Sri Lanka were unable to take the field in pursuit of India’s total of 267 for four. The rain started as players left the field after India’s innings and did not stop, ensuring Tuesday’s match suffered the same fate as Sunday’s tri series opener between Australia and India here.
Earlier a magnificent century from Gautam Gambhir and an unbeaten 88 from captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni led an Indian recovery. India finished on 267 after at one stage slumping to 83-4, losing three wickets for just three runs. Gambhir made an unbeaten 102 from 101 balls and Dhoni 88 from 95 deliveries with a mixture of aggressive stroke play and delightful touches to frustrate the Sri Lankans, who at one stage were eyeing an Indian total of less than 220.
Gambhir brought up his century in the last over of the innings when Dhoni stole a quick single to get him on strike. But he said he was never thinking of the triple figures. “A century was never on my mind — it was more important that the team should win,” Gambhit said. “That’s what I told Dhoni — it was more important that he hits the ball well (than getting me on strike).” Dhoni won the toss and chose to bat, but with the match starting in high humidity and overcast skies his decision appeared to be a gamble.
But the ball didn’t swing early on and Indian openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were untroubled as they took the score to 68. Tendulkar brought up a remarkable milestone when he snatched a quick single from the bowling of Chaminda Vaas to move to 28 and bring up his 16,000th run in one-day internationals. “He’s a legend — he’s the greatest batsman India has ever produced,” Gambhit said. “To get 16,000 runs in one-day cricket — it’s just incredible. Only a genius can do these things, and he’s a genius.”—Agencies