6.30 pm So, it was about time the Champions Trophy bucked up. Hopefully New Zealand and Bangladesh can keep your appetites whetted and there's tons of fun to be had. It was lovely bringing the coverage to you, lovely to read your comments as well, please keep sending them. But for now, lets all get outta here.
"It's one of the top wins, to beat India. It was a fantastic wicket. The bowlers did brilliantly to restrict India to 321. it's a very chaseable target," Mathews says, "I tried to hit as many balls in the nets as possible, it makes you feel good and that helped me come back from injury. Wasn't easy for Gunathilaka to walk into the side and bat like how he did. Kusal is a great player, and Kusal Perera also batted really well. Those partnerships were crucial. It's a must-win game for all of us in the group. Not many people expected us to win and that took a lot of pressure off us. [Turning point?] I thought the second-wicket partnership. They set us the platform"
"We felt we had enough on the board, we trusted out bowlers, but Sri Lanka were pretty good. They kept the momentum through the innings, they picked their areas to hit and executed really well," Kohli says, "There's always hindsight. I thought we bowled decently. But when you don't execute properly, there is always food for thought. Here you have to give credit to the other team. In a tournament like this especially."
Kusal Mendis is the Man of the Match for his 89 off 93. "Very good wicket. India had a good start, with Dhawan making a hundred. But for us, Danushka supported me very well. It was my first game against India and I'm happy to have contributed. Very bad [about causing Danushka's run out] but after Angelo and Kusal batted, I was very happy"
6.20 pm More good news for Sri Lanka - Kusal Perera having retired hurt with a troubled hamstring is feeling good enough to walk down the stairs himself. He played an important hand through the middle of the innings, ensuring the platform set by top order didn't go to waste. And who put on that stand? A batsman all the rage back home, Kusal Mendis, and a man who was on the standby list until a few days ago, Danushka Gunathilaka. 322 is the largest target Sri Lanka have chased in ODI cricket It is also the ninth time that Sri Lanka have chased 300 - all of which have happened away from home. But this one will be special - it came in an ICC tournament and it was set up by players they will look to moving into the future. And so the remaining games in this group become quarter-finals - India v SA and Pakistan v SL
Saain: "A clinical performance with the bat, youngsters came to the party and guided to the victory by the Man himself, Angelo Mathews. Siri Lankan's will cherish this for long long time"
Prasanna S: "India lose their first CT game after a sequence of 7 wins starting from their last game in 2009 against WI. Someday this sequence should end and SL completely deserved this win."
Uday: "Srilanka chased 324 in 2006. 322 is not their highest chase, I believe." They got to 324, but the target was 322.
Here's Umesh
END OF OVER:48 | 5 Runs | SL: 314/3 (8 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.54, RRR: 4.00)
- Asela Gunaratne31 (19b)
- Angelo Mathews47 (43b)
- Jasprit Bumrah10-0-52-0
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar10-0-54-1
Faisal suleman: "Yesterday world no 1 team stunned by world no 8 team and today world no 2 team stunned by world number 7 team." Only nine runs away...
Rox: "What is your guess on the third bowler, assuming Bumrah and Yadav one each? Will it be Hardik? He did well against Bangladesh in the T20 world cup." Good guess. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan team is all on their feet
Sri Lanka need 13 off 18 balls. They've worked so hard to be in this position, most of which by the youngsters. The physio is out again, treating Mathews' hamstring and Gunaratne's shoulder. Bumrah's last over.
END OF OVER:47 | 8 Runs | SL: 309/3 (13 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.57, RRR: 4.33)
- Angelo Mathews45 (40b)
- Asela Gunaratne28 (16b)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar10-0-54-1
- Jasprit Bumrah9-0-47-0
James: "Very clever partnership batting from Mathews. Taking the singles, and letting Asela take the risks. Mathews wants to be there at the death." Bhuvneshwar to bowl out. Third man goes back, fine leg is back as well. Midwicket is up
END OF OVER:46 | 11 Runs | SL: 301/3 (21 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 6.54, RRR: 5.25)
- Asela Gunaratne27 (15b)
- Angelo Mathews38 (35b)
- Jasprit Bumrah9-0-47-0
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar9-0-46-1
Sri Lanka need 21 off 24 - and if they get that, they'll equal their highest chance is ODIs.
Sri Lanka need 32 off 30. This is where India need their specialist at the death Bumrah to come through. But it is so hard to work the trick in such circumstances. Meanwhile, Mathews has been getting treatment between overs as well.
Bharat Jakati: "Just realised Gunaratne is the bro that hit a really heroic 70-80 runs against Australia recently. This is futile for India. Hope for the best against SA."
END OF OVER:45 | 11 Runs | SL: 290/3 (32 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 6.44, RRR: 6.40)
- Asela Gunaratne17 (10b)
- Angelo Mathews37 (34b)
- Bhuvneshwar Kumar9-0-46-1
- Umesh Yadav9-0-59-0
Divyamsh: "In the pre-tournament press conference Sri Lanka captain said- We are happy to enter the tournament as a underdogs. Looking at the position they are in now, I would say- Take your words back, sir !!!"
