LIVE SCORE

August 15, 2008
Yuvraj Singh, one of India's leading One Day player struck gold at the P Saravanamuttu Stadium on his country's independence day with a breathtaking knock of 172. Yuvraj's 172 came in just 121 balls with 8 fours and 13 sixes in the warm-up One Dayer against a Sri Lankan XI which was led by Chamara Kapugedera. India recorded a 92-run win over the home side after posting a mammoth 342 for 5 batting first. Other than Yuvraj's performance, there was no other big performance coming from the other players who managed to put in meaningful contributions.

India were lucky to have won the toss which enabled them good batting practice which certainly is the need of the hour. The visitors tried a new opening combination in Gautam Gambhir and new comer Virat Kohli. Gambhir blasted his way to a 25-ball 31 with 6 fours while Kohli took his time in his 23 that came in 40 balls with 4 fours. The Sri Lankan attack consisted of internationals Dilhara Fernando, Thilan Thushara, who didn't have a good outing. Apart from Yuvraj's 172, contributions came from no.3 Suresh Raina, who made 45 from 57 balls with 4 fours and a six and Skipper MS Dhoni with an unbeaten 20 from 16 balls with a six. Discarded leggie Malinga Bandara had the most impressive figures for the Lankans with 1 for 48 in his 10 overs while Dilhara, who is returning after an injury took a beating in his none for 75 in 10 overs.

The Sri Lankan XI faced an uphill task and its batsmen were quite content to get their individual scores rather than going after the 343 target. Opener Upul Tharanga helped himself to 50 (from 58 balls with 6 fours and a six) and later on Jehan Mubarak, coming in at 6 made 60 (from 74 balls) to be the top scorer. They were two more decent scores coming in from Chamara Silva, who made 38 from 46 balls and wicket keeper Kaushal Silva, who made an unbeaten 38 from 55 balls. For the Indians, Irfan Pathan captured a couple of top order wickets but at the same time, leaked runs at 6.00 rpo in his 8 overs. India now move onto Dambulla where they take on Sri Lanka in the first ODI which is on the 18th.