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Tharanga century put Sri Lanka in charge
13:45, Dec 24 2009
Upul Tharanga hit a superb century to help Sri Lanka post a challenging total in the fourth one-day international against India in Kolkata.
Tharanga anchored the Sri Lankan innings with a nicely-paced 118, while Kumar Sangakkara made a fine 60 as the visitors reached an imposing 315 for six.
Sri Lanka must win to keep their hopes of victory alive in the five-game series.
Asish Nehra, who had dropped Tharanga on seven when he failed to hold on to a fairly straightforward return catch, went some way to atoning for that error by snaring Tillakaratne Dilshan early, Virat Kohli completing the dismissal with a smart catch at long leg.
Sanath Jayasuriya, batting at three, started with a boundary to fine leg before also departing cheaply, edging Zaheer Khan to Sachin Tendulkar at slip.
But then Sangakkara, who was handed reprieve before he was even off the mark when Harbhajan Singh squandered a simple chance at third man, and Tharanga built a solid base.
The pair scored easily off the spinners and struck timely boundaries as they added 126 for the third wicket, Tharanga reaching his seventh ODI century in the process.
Sangakkara too reached his half-century, but the partnership was ended when the Sri Lanka captain was smartly stumped by Dinesh Karthik as he got too far out and across while attempting to help a Harbhajan delivery down to fine leg. Tharanga's stay was ended by Zaheer soon after, but Sri Lanka's middle-order kicked on.
Debutant Thissara Perera, who replaced Angelo Mathews in the squad and who made the final eleven only because of an injury to Chanaka Welegedara during practice just before the start, chipped in with a 14-ball 31, while cameos from Mahela Jayawardene (33) and Thilina Kandamby (23 not out from 15) helped Sri Lanka to a strong total.
Four deliveries remained in Sri Lanka's innings when play was stopped after one of the light towers failed, but Sri Lanka added eight more to their total when play resumed to finish on a high.
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