#2 India tour of Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka v India at Colombo (RPS), Jul 28, 2012
Led by the heroics of Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan, India defeated Sri Lanka in what is, to date, the highest run chase in an ODI by a visiting team in Sri Lanka. India, in fact, held the top 4 positions of the highest run chases in Sri Lanka until last year.
Sri Lanka had not lost their previous 28 matches when they scored over 250 runs at home coming into the game. This win, however, propelled India as they went on to win the subsequent 2 matches and comprehensively with the 5 match series 4-1.
Having opted to bat first, Sri Lanka lost 3 quick wickets, but they slowly got back on track with a 120-run partnership between Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakarra. After their departures, Jeevan Mendis, along with Angelo Mathews guided Sri Lanka to a highly respectable total of 286.
In reply, India started off well as Gautam Gambhir danced his way to a century. The Indians were looking comfortable till the 35th over as Sri Lanka scalped 2 wickets in 2 balls in the very next over.
With Suresh Raina and Irfan Pathan out in the middle, India needed 91 runs to win in just 12 overs. With no batting left after Pathan, Sri Lanka decided to rest Lasith Malinga for a few overs.
This proved costly for them as Raina and Pathan took charge and did not spare any bowler. In the end, with 6 required off the last over, India won with 2 balls to spare.
Result: India 288 for 5 (Gambhir 102, Raina 65*) beat Sri Lanka 286 for 5 (Sangakkara 73, Mathews 71*, Jayawardene 65) by 5 wickets
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