Champions Trophy: Kohli, Karthik guide India to emphatic victory

India 337/5 (Virat Kohli 144, Dinesh Karthik 106*) beat Sri Lanka 333/3 (Dilshan 84) by 5 wickets.

India registered their first win in England as they thrashed Sri Lanka by 5 wickets in the first warm-up match. Virat Kohli’s incredible century and Dinesh Karthik’s fabulous 106* helped India register their win.

The wicket played an important role in the match as it was perfect surface for batting. Sri Lanka posted a formidable total of 333 runs, but India chased the target comfortably with an over to spare. The run chase looked a bit scratchy when India lost three wickets – Vijay, Rohit Sharma and Raina in the space of 50 runs. However, Dinesh Karthik stuck with Virat Kohli and put up a match-winning partnership of 186 runs for the fifth wicket.

Losing Dhawan’s wicket in the second over was a major setback for the Indian team. Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay steadied the ship for India as the duo put on a constructive partnership of 47 runs. Eranga got rid of Vijay when the duo looked like they were ready to fire. It was followed by the wicket of Rohit Sharma as he was dismissed by Perera for 5, having struck a beautiful four through midwicket region the previous delivery.

Suresh Raina, who had an outstanding IPL this year, didn’t fancy the spin bowling as he was clean bowled by Senanayake after a well-scored 34. After the fall of Suresh Raina, it was Dinesh Karthik who played a magnificent innings alongside Virat Kohli to secure a massive win for India.

Once the pair settled down, they started playing some magnificent shots against Sri Lanka fast bowlers. Jeevan Mendis was the victim as Dinesh Karthik and Virat Kohli clobbered him all over the park. Also, Dilhara was taken for runs without difficulty by the duo as his figures read 1-0-18-0.

Indian batsmen at the crease didn’t feel the pressure of the required run rate as they were scoring at the rate of 6.50 runs per over. Both batsmen, deservedly, completed their centuries.

Earlier, Sri Lanka were formidable with the bat. K Perera and Dilshan put on a wonderful partnership of 170 runs in 29 overs, before Perera was retired hurt for 82. Dilshan too found his form as he played a fabulous innings of 82 and gave opportunity to Sri Lanka’s young batsmen to score the runs.

Ishant Sharma provided the first breakthrough for India as he got rid of Jayewardene in the 36^th over. After the wicket of Jayewardene, the middle order crumbled and they could manage only 30’s and 40’s.

The bowling wasn’t good from either of the teams as the wicket was not assisting with the swing. India will be content with the win in the warm-up match of the Champions Trophy.