Asia Cup 2012: India set 305 to win for Sri Lanka in their Asia Cup opener - Match Update
Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli shared a record second-wicket partnership as India amassed a mammoth total of 304 for 3 from their allotted quota of 50 overs in their Asia Cup opener against Sri Lanka at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur, today March
13, 2012.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and put India into bat. The Men in Blue are defending their title in the 10th edition of the regional tournament. The Indian team lost Sachin Tendulkar early, with only 19 on the board in the
sixth over. Sachin was caught by Mahela Jayawardene off Suranga Lakmal’s bowling. Sachin failed again in his quest to reach the elusive hundredth International ton.
Sachin’s departure brought the newly appointed vice-captain, Virat Kohli, to the crease. The hard-hitting middle-order batsman played exceptionally well and shared a three-digit stand with opener Gautam Gambhir for the second wicket.
Both batsmen struck centuries during their 205-run stand that came from 37 overs, setting a new partnership record for the second wicket in the Asia Cup. The previous best was of 198, shared between Virender Sehwag and Suresh Raina against Pakistan at Karachi,
during the 2008 Asia Cup tournament.
Gambhir scored 100 runs from 118 balls, which also included seven boundaries. Kohli also struck seven boundaries during his 120-ball stay at the crease, which saw him scoring 108 runs. Both Kohli and Gambhir scored their tenth international ton today. The
duo departed with a gap of one ball in the 43rd over to leave the side at 226 for 3.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Suresh Raina continued the scoring at the same pace and ensured that India did not suffer any further losses and ended their innings at 304 for 3.
India XI:
G Gambhir, SR Tendulkar, V Kohli, RG Sharma, SK Raina, MS Dhoni, RA Jadeja, IK Pathan, R Ashwin, P Kumar, R Vinay Kumar
Sri Lanka XI:
TM Dilshan, DPMD Jayawardene, KC Sangakkara, LD Chandimal, WU Tharanga, CK Kapugedera, HDRL Thirimanne, MF Maharoof, KMDN Kulasekara, RAS Lakmal, S Prasanna