Dhoni leads the way
Published:Friday | July 12, 2013 | 12:00 AM
PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AP):
Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit an unbeaten 45 off 52 balls to give India a thrilling one-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the Celkon Mobile Cup final at Queen's Park Oval yesterday.
Dhoni, returning from an injured hamstring, shared a last-wicket stand of 20 with Ishant Sharma as India reached their winning target at 203-9 with two balls to spare.
Opener Rohit Sharma anchored the run chase with 58 off 89 deliveries while Suresh Raina (32) and Dinesh Karthik (23) scored crucial middle-order runs.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath was Sri Lanka's trump card with a career-best 4-20. Fast bowler Shaminda Eranga claimed 2-50 but was pounded for two sixes and a four by Dhoni, who scored 16 in the decisive final over.
Earlier, Kumar Sangakkara's top score of 71 led Sri Lanka but his last eight wickets subsided for 30 runs and he was bowled out for 201 off 48.5 overs.
Dhoni said he was always confident of getting his side over the line despite the tense finish.
"I think I'm blessed with good cricketing sense," he said.
"I thought 15 runs was something I can look for, the reason being the opposition bowler was not someone who was very experienced like (Lasith) Malinga or some of the other bowlers.