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Kohli powers India to clean sweep

Skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with a gritty unbeaten century as a dominant India completed a resounding 5-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka by winning the fifth and final One-day International by three wickets here on Sunday.

Opting to bat, Sri Lanka rode on their skipper Angelo Mathews’ unbeaten 116-ball 139 to put up a challenging 286 for eight at the JSCA International Stadium Complex, before Kohli (139) guided India home with eight balls to spare.

Kohli struck 12 fours and three sixes during his 126-ball captain’s knock as India boosted their confidence ahead of the tough upcoming tour of Australia.

A screaming Kohli sealed the issue by hitting Mendis for a six over long-on after completing his 21st century and the fourth this year.

Incidentally, Mathews too scored the same number of runs runs in setting up respectable score, but the day belonged to his Indian counterpart as India geared up to the Australia tour before the World Cup with a memorable series triumph.

Watched on by his GCA president Amit Shah, Axar Patel played a perfect cameo remaining unbeaten on 17 from 14 balls in an undefeated 57-run partnership from 32 balls.

Chasing a fighting 287, India looked in firm control with Kohli and Rayudu (59 from 69 balls) putting on 136 runs for the third wicket, but the latter was unfortunately run out by the skipper triggering a mini collapse.

Lanka almost had the twist in the tale after Mendis (4/73) claimed the wickets of Stuart Binny and R Ashwin in successive deliveries as Kohli remained stranded at the other end.

The collapse that began with Rayudu’s wicket meant India lost five wickets for 81 runs but Kohli held his nerves and took on Mendis, stepping out to hit a big six and a four to turn the match in India’s favour.

Scripting yet another run chase, Kohli brought back the memories of his 77 not out in their run chase against England in January last year, in the first match at the venue.

It was their best ever fight on the gruelling tour that came up suddenly, and heavy dew played a big role in their narrow defeat.

Earlier, struggling at 85/4 in 18.3 overs, Mathews arrested the slide and ensured that they produce some fight for the first time in their most forgettable two-week sojourn.

Mathews’ 116-ball knock was laced with six fours and 10 sixes.

With their senior batsmen coming a cropper yet again, Mathews found a perfect ally in his deputy Lahiru Thirimanne, who made 52 off 76 balls with the help of two fours and a six, in their 128-run partnership.

Mathews also excelled with the ball, dealing two early blows on India as he removed both the openers in his first two overs to give the hosts their worst start of the series.

Rahane was out for two after a good length ball kept low and the batsman could not do much, but the biggest joy for the Lankans came when Mathews castled the record-breaking man Rohit Sharma, who got out for 9 after playing a cross-batted shot. 

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka 
N Dickwella c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4
T Dilshan b Binny 35 D Chandimal c Rohit b Patel 5 M Jayawardene c Rahane b Ashwin 32 A Mathews not out 139 L Thirimanne c Rayudu b Ashwin 52 T Perera c Jadhav b Patel 6 S Prasanna c Patel b Kulkarni 0 A Mendis c Karn b Kulkarni 0
Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-7) 13 Total (For 8 wickets; 50 overs) 286 Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-45, 3-73, 4-85, 5-213, 6-258, 7-285, 8-286  Bowling: Kulkarni 8-0-57-3, Binny 8-1-28-1, Patel 10-0-45-2, Ashwin 10-1-56-2, Sharma 10-0-61-0, Rayudu 4-0-33-0. 

India 
A Rahane b Mathews 2 R Sharma b Mathews 9 A Rayudu run out 59 V Kohli not out 139 R Uthappa c Mathews b Mendis 19 K Jadhav b Mendis 20 S Binny st Chandimal b Mendis 12 R Ashwin lbw b Mendis0 A Patel  not out 17 Extras (B-4, WD-7) 11 Total (For 7 wickets in 48.4 overs) 288 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-14, 3-150, 4-180, 5-215, 6-231, 7-231. Bowling: A Mathews 7-1-33-2, L Gamage 4-0-25-0, S Eranga 7-0-45-0, S Prasanna 10-0-42-0, T Perera 3-0-20-0, A Mendis 9.4-0-73-4, T Dilshan 8-0-46-0.
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