NAGPUR, India - Sachin Tendulkar top-scored with 93 on his return from injury to inspire India to a 152-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international yesterday.
India amassed 350 for six wickets in 50 overs before dismissing Sri Lanka for 198 with 14.2 overs to spare. The
hosts took a 1-0 lead in the seven-match series.
Tendulkar, who underwent elbow surgery in May, shared in a 164-run second wicket partnership with Irfan Pathan from just 137 balls after captain Rahul Dravid chose to bat.
Pathan, promoted up the order, hit a 70-ball 83 before Dravid took over to lash 85 not out in 63 balls to put his team on top.
Dravid, who replaced Saurav Ganguly as captain, was named man of the match.
Off spinner Harbhajan Singh struck three quick blows to reduce Sri Lanka to 88 for five in 15 overs, as the slow bowlers took command on a helpful pitch.
Opener Sanath Jayasuriya (27) and Kumar Sangakkara (43) added 64 runs at nearly seven an over for the second wicket.
Harbhajan removed Jayasuriya to trigger the collapse.
Tendulkar set the tone for the victory by playing numerous vintage shots.
The 32-year-old joined Pathan to hit a flurry of boundaries and take quick singles. Pathan hit 56 of his runs in boundaries and sixes for his third one-day half century.
Tendulkar, who struck nine fours and two sixes and faced 96 balls, played many lofted shots despite wearing an elbow support.
He drove Farveez Maharoof through cover and flicked him past square leg for two fours off the second and third balls he faced.
Although Chaminda Vaas made an early breakthrough when he had Virender Sehwag (20) caught behind, Tendulkar lofted seamer Dilhara Fernando over mid-on for six and hit him for a straight four.
He swept off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan for four and pushed him to midwicket for single to reach his 70th one-day fifty.
Tendulkar and Pathan kept up a run rate of well over six an over to bring up the 200 in the 31st over before the visitors briefly fought back by removing both players in quick succession.
Pathan was caught at mid-off against off spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan. Tendulkar, suffering from cramp, missed out on his 39th one-day hundred when he edged a wide ball from Maharoof to wicketkeeper Sangakkara, who took a diving catch.
Dravid quickly settled down before playing an unusually attacking innings, the highlight of which was a stunning six over point off Vaas.
Sri Lankan skipper Marvan Atapattu was bowled for one off his second ball, beaten by a Pathan delivery which nipped back.
Harbhajan had Jayasuriya caught at cover off his second ball before Sangakkara gave a return catch to Sehwag in the next over.
The second one-dayer will be played in Mohali on Saturday (NZT).
- REUTERS
NAGPUR, India - Sachin Tendulkar top-scored with 93 on his return from injury to inspire India to a 152-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international yesterday.
India amassed 350 for six wickets in 50 overs before dismissing Sri Lanka for 198 with 14.2 overs to spare. The
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