5th ODI: India vs Sri Lanka - As it happened...

Ranchi: India defeated Sri Lanka by three wickets in the fifth and final One-day International here on Sunday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, Sri Lanka scored 286 for eight, before India chased down the target with eight balls to spare.
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Over 48.4 || Score 288/7

Kohli gets a huge six off Mendis off the first ball to get the game in India's favour completely. Kohli calls Axar for a close run and he then smashes another six to win the game for India.

Over 48 || Score 274/7

Mathews to bowl and his counterpart and Axar getting the scorecard ticking. Kohli gets two vital runs off two deliveries in this over to show his energy before getting a single to keep strike.

Over 47 || Score 266/7

Eranga starts off with a wide and Kohli then gets a single. Axar gets lucky after getting an edge that goes to the boundary. Kohli joins the party after hitting a shot over cover region for a boundary. Sort of over India needed. 13 runs come from the over.

Kohli is leading India's chase and another wicket could still change the outcome of the match.

Virat Kohli's brilliant century is guiding India's chase but they have just 3 wickets in hand http://t.co/Su7yyQlUlP pic.twitter.com/r0LREWjOW6 — ICC (@ICC) November 16, 2014

Over 46 || Score 253/7

Mendis bowls and both Kohli and Axar eke out two singles before Kohli hits a six and four off successive deliveries to ease the pressure. He keeps the strike after getting a single off the last ball.

Over 45 || Score 240/7

Axar smashes one through point region for four off Prasanna. He then survives a close LBW appeal before getting a vital two runs off the last ball. India need 47 runs to win off the last five overs.

Over 44 || Score 233/7

Binny departs after trying to dance down the track and dispatch Mendis, gets stumped by Chandimal. Ashwin departs the next ball after a ball that hits his pads and was adjudged leg before wicket. Axar comes in and gets a single before Kohli gets a run off the last ball to keep strike.

R Ashwin lbw b Mendis 0 (1b)

​STR Binny st Chandimal b Mendis 12 (15b)

Over 43 || Score 231/5

Eranga replaces Dilshan and Kohli gets two runs after flicking off his pads and then steers one to the third man area and gets his century. His innings is studded with 10 fours. Four runs come from the over.

Over 42 || Score 227/5

Dilshan comes in and Binny gets into the act hitting a much needed boundary. Mendis continues and Binny gets another four after getting a thick edge. Virat is still on the nineties. 97 for him.

Over 40 || Score 216/5

Prasanna bowls a tight over giving just two runs as Mendis then scalps Jadhav. Disappointing debut for Jadhav. He stepped out of his crease and tried to hammer Mendis for a boundary through mid-wicket but missed the plot completely. Stuart Binny comes in and gets off the mark straight away. 

KM Jadhav b Mendis 20 (24b)

Over 38 || Score 210/4

Prasanna gives away four byes to gift India vital runs. Mendis follows and Jadhav hits two boundaries off successive deliveries. One through the leg side aftera sublime sweep followed by a perfect shot through cover region.

Over 36 || Score 194/4

Kohli plays a beautiful shot past backward point off Prasanna for a boundary with six runs coming from the over. India have taken the batting power-play and Jadhav steers one to the fence playing a late cut off Mendis. Six runs come from this over too.

Over 34 || Score 182/4

Uthappa has departed after trying to flick Mendis for a run with Angelo Mathews pulling off a stunner. Kedar Jadhav comes in. Eight runs have come from the last two overs.

RV Uthappa c Mathews b Mendis 19 (21b)

Over 32 || Score 162/3

Virat Kohli has completed 1000 runs in ODI cricket in calendar year 2014. Uthappa has hit two boundaries meanwhile off Eranga and Dilshan and both the shots have been beautiful to watch. Perera has bowled a good over just giving three runs in it.

Over 30 || Score 162/3

India have lost the wicket of Rayudu meanwhile, after a big mess up with Kohli. He departed for 59. Uthappa comes in. Kohli has been supreme in the middle and is looking for his 21st century in ODI cricket.

AT Rayudu run out 59 (69b)

Over 19 || Score 97/2

Kohli brings up his fifty with a four off Mendis. 12 runs come from the two overs.

Over 17 || Score 86/2

The scoring rate has risen for India. Both Kohli and Rayudu have hit a boundary each apart from running between the wickets to get singles at ease. 

Over 15 || Score 68/2

India have started to recover, well. Both Rayudu and Kohli have stitched a 44-run partnership. The duo have hit seven boundaries between them since Rohit's dismissal. 

Over 5 || Score 14/2

India have been dealt with second blow. Mathews has been on song once again as he gets Rohit Sharma too. Length ball and Sharma wanted to play a cross batted shot and got castled. Wicket maiden for Mathews.

RG Sharma b Mathews 9 (12b)

Over 3 || Score 8/1

India have started slowly in the run-chase and have lost the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane. The ball kept low off Mathews and the opener departs for just two runs. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma hit a gorgeous shot through point off Gamage in the second over. That has been India's only boundary so far.

AM Rahane b Mathews 2 (10b)

Angelo Mathews makes his Maiden ODI century, as his 139* drives Sri Lanka to 286 at Ranchi http://t.co/Su7yyQlUlP pic.twitter.com/ho6ba8r0qT — ICC (@ICC) November 16, 2014

We had congratulation messages for Mathews. 

What a player Angelo Mathews!!! Congratulations on maiden ODI hundred...Simply outstanding..!! — Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) November 16, 2014

India's problem in the death overs continue. Mathews scored 59 runs in the last 19 balls he faced. 6 6 4 2 2 4 1 . 6 6 1 6 4b 6 6 1 1 . 1 

Angelo Mathews has had a brilliant series with a total of 339 runs. And he was the instrument of Sri Lanka's batting today. He hit 10 sixes today and he summed up the brutality beautifully. Thirimanne played his part too.

Over 50 || Score 286/7

Sri Lanka have finished the match well. In the 46th over Mathews goes big and slams two big sixes and a four off Karn Sharma. Kulkarni comes back and gives away 14 runs with Mathews bringing up his first ton in ODI format. Patel comes and well Mathews gets his act going. Three maximums in the over alongside a wicket. Perera departs after going for a huge smack over deep backward square leg. But Mathews is the star of the show with his brutal innings. 49th over and it is the same old story. Ashwin gets punished by Mathews for two huge sixes. Kulkarni gets the last over and well two wickets come. First, Prasanna and then Mendis who depart after failing to add to the scorecard. 

S Prasanna c Patel b Kulkarni 0 (4b)

​BAW Mendis c KV Sharma b Kulkarni 0 (1b)

NLTC Perera c Jadhav b Patel 6 (5b)

Over 45 || Score 213/5

Ashwin gives away ten runs in the 42nd over with Thirimanne hitting a huge six off the last bowl. Patel continues brilliantly giving away two runs. Sharma comes in and Mathews completes his 1000th run in the calendar year. Thirimanne completes his fifty meanwhile. Ashwin then gets Thirimanne who departs for a well made 52. Gets out after trying to go past long-on.

HDRL Thirimanne c Rayudu b Ashwin 52 (76b)

Over 41 || Score 192/4

Sri Lanka have recovered well and both batsmen are looking good. Twenty-six runs off the powerplay without a wicket is good for the visitors. Mathews is looking ominous out there heaving Rayudu for a four and two huge sixes in the 41st over.

Over 34 || Score 140/4

The 50-run partnership have come between Mathews and Thirimanne. Good approach this by these two batsmen. Sharma gives away a boundary to Thirimanne in the 31st over. Rayudu comes back and bowls tightly to concede just two runs. Sharma then gives away another boundary after bowling a loosener. Angelo Mathews on the attack there. Binny is introduced once again and he bowls a neat over.

Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjerekar feels that Kedar Jadhav deserved his chance today.

Not often you find a guy with an exceptional record in all 3 formats of the game. Kedar Jadhav is one such guy. Deserved this opportunity. — Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 16, 2014

Over 30 || Score 120/4

Sri Lanka are progressing slowly with Mathews and Thirimanne. Rayudu is introduced in the 26th over and he gives away four runs. Karn Sharma has looked solid in his approach. He has been bowling tightly. Rayudu continues and Mathews sweeps him for a four. Seven runs come. Sharma then gives away five singles and Ashwin who replaced Rayudu follows up with a tight good-looking over.

Over 25 || Score 102/4

Indian spinners have formed a web around the Lankans. The visitors have got their 100 runs on the board. Ashwin, Patel and Karn have looked sharp and consistent. 15 runs have come in the last five overs. A chance gone begging. Rahane dropping a sitter in the slips off Ashwin's bowling. Thirrimanne was the batsman.

Over 20 || Score 87/4

Jayawardene slams successive boundaries off Patel as eight runs come from the over. Karn Sharma is introduced and he starts well giving just two runs from the over. Mahela Jayawardene tries to cut a flattened delivery off Ashwin and finds the slip fielder. Big blow this for the visitors. Patel comes back and gives away just two runs from the over.

DPMD Jayawardene c Rahane b Ashwin 32 (33b)

Over 16 || Score 73/3

Kulkarni continues and Jayawardene packs a powerful shot for a boundary. Seven runs come from his over. Binny continues and bowls a tight over for a single. Axar Patel comes into the attack and straight away Jayawardene pounces at him for a boundary. Ashwin too is introduced and gives away seven runs that included a boundary past the slips. Axar continues and gets his man. Chandimal struggled all day and he finally ends his struggle by playing a suicidal shot. Rohit Sharma with the catch at long-on. Angelo Mathews is the new batsman. Ashwin then gets a maiden.

LD Chandimal c RG Sharma b Patel 5 (31b

Over 10 || Score 52/2

Binny continues and well Dilshan hammers him for two superb boundaries. Last ball of the over and Binny gets Dilshan. This ball kept straight and Dilshan trying to go on the on-side is castled beautifully. Kulkarni follows it up with a tight over that gave a run.Binny then tightens the screws further after getting a maiden.The next two overs produce six runs. Good spells these by Binny and Kulkarni.

TM Dilshan b Binny 35 (24b)

Over 5 || Score 37/1

Stuart Binny continues and Dilshan crashes a shot over cover for four. Five runs come. Kulkarni then gives away a four as Dilshan crashes once again through the off side. Kulkarni to Dickwella, OUT, Dickwella's gone! Amazing catch at square leg by Rayudu. Chandimal comes in and well five runs off an attempted short ball. 

N Dickwella c Rayudu b Kulkarni 4 (10b)

Over 3 || Score 19/0

Dickwella and Dilshan start the batting for the Lankans. Kulkarni opens the bowling for India and Dilshan whacks him for three boundaries in the over. The first one was through mid-wicket, the next one went past the stumps and the third one through cover. Binny bowls the second over and gives away just three runs. Kulkarni then gives away four singles from the third over. Cautious start for Lanka.

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have elected to bat first.

Teams (from)

India: Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Suresh Raina, Robin Uthappa (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Dhawal Kulkarni, Vinay Kumar, Stuart Binny, Karn Sharma, Axar Patel and Kedar Jadhav.

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (c), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Ashan Priyanjan, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lahiru Gamage, Chaturanga de Silva, Seekuge Prasanna, Ajantha Mendis and Shaminda Eranga.

Having decimated the opposition with clinical precision in all four matches, India will be aiming to complete a clean sweep when they take on a struggling Sri Lanka in the fifth and final cricket one-dayer here on Sunday.

With the series already in their pocket, Virat Kohli-led team would like to finish with a 5-0 which will be a confidence booster with the ICC World Cup starting in less than 100 days' time.

If India have been thoroughly professional in their first three outings, the penultimate one at Eden Gardens, turned out to be historic with Rohit Sharma smashing his way into the record books with a highest individual ODI score of 264 as India routed the islanders by 153 runs.

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews has admitted that nothing was going their way after a string of embarrassing failures. The worst part was that they were never able to give India any competition.

If the bowling has lacked the venom in absence of their sling-arm fast bowler Lasith Malinga, it's better not to say something about the fielding which has failed to give them the back-up.