India taste overseas ODI win after 7 months

Perth, Feb 8 (IBNS) Young middle-order batsman Virat Kohli stood tall and delivered by cracking a match-winning 77 as India registered a four-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground in the second ODI of the tri-series here Wednesday.

Sachin Tendulkar failed yet again in his quest to score his long-awaited 100th international century but he along with Kohli ensured India a comfortable win.

Sri Lanka made 233-8 after winning the toss and electing to bat, but India replied with 234-6, reaching the victory target with 20 balls to spare.

It was the first time the sides had met in a one-day international since last year´s World Cup final, which India again won, that time by six wickets.

Tendulkar looked at ease and was on course for his long-awaited milestone but on 48 he dragged an Angelo Mathews delivery onto his stumps.

Kohli, the only Indian to hit a century during the Tests, ran himself out and seemed to suffer a hamstring strain in doing so. The 23-year-old was run out by a direct hit from Lasith Malinga at mid-on. He hit eight boundaries and one six in the 94 balls he faced.

India were in trouble at 181-6 but man-of-the-match Ravi Ashwin (30 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (24 not out) guided them home.

Earlier, Dinesh Chandimal´s 4 from 81 balls was the mainstay of the Sri Lankan innings and at least helped them post a competitive total.

Sri Lankan batsmen squandered promising starts, including opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (48) and veteran Kumar Sangakkara (26), but the 22-year-old Chandimal was the only one to reach 50.

Ashwin, dropped from the Indian side for the third Test at the same venue last month, was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3-32 from his 10 overs, while recalled paceman Zaheer Khan picked up 2-44 from 10 overs.