Dhoni guides India to one-day victory

Mahendra Singh Dhoni hits an unbeaten 61 off 65 balls to lead India to a six-wicket victory over the hosts Sri Lanka.

DAMBULLA // The captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit an unbeaten 61 off 65 balls to lead India to a six-wicket victory in the opening limited-overs international against Sri Lanka. Set 247 to win after Sanath Jayasuriya had scored 107 for the home side, the opener Gautam Gambhir laid the foundations with 62 in his part of a 113 second wicket stand with Suresh Raina (54). Earlier, Jayasuriya, 39, became the oldest centurion in one-day internationals and went past the 13,000-run mark after cracking 10 fours and one six. The all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, promoted up the order, also chipped in with 35. Dhoni had won the toss and chose to bowl first in the hope of exploiting the early seam movement. Tillakaratne Dilshan was run out for a duck in the first over but Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara negotiated the initial threat of the new ball with intelligent batting. Jayasuriya put on 118 for the second wicket with the fellow left-hander Sangakkara (44). Sri Lanka looked poised for a large total but India pegged them back in the latter stages of the innings. Thilina Kandamby (17) spooned a catch to mid-off and Jayasuriya skied another catch to the covers, reducing the hosts to 171 for four. The Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene's low-scoring run continued as he top-edged a sweep and was out for 11. Ishant Sharma, the fast bowler, was the most successful of the Indian attack, claiming three for 52. India's reply started badly when Sachin Tendulkar (5) was unfortunate to be judged lbw to an inswinger from Thilina Thushara that pitched outside leg-stump. That was counterbalanced by a reprieve for Gambhir who was lucky to get the benefit of the doubt after a caught and bowled decision was referred to the TV umpire. Sri Lanka were also guilty of poor fielding as Dilshan dropped a simple chance at backward point when Raina had made six. The home side clawed their way back into the game when Gambhir was caught in the deep and Raina was run out, leaving India 137 for three. Dhoni, however, took command by adding 44 with Yuvraj Singh (23) and an unbroken 66-run stand with Rohit Sharma (25 not out). The second game in the five-match series is in Colombo on Saturday. *Reuters