Wisden
1st ODI

Sri Lanka v India, 2012

Rex Clementine

At Hambantota, July 21, 2012 (day/night). India won by 21 runs. Toss: India.

The pitch at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium had proved tough for batsmen during the Pakistan series a few weeks previously, but this time more than 600 runs flowed. Sehwag put on 173 with Kohli, who completed his 12th one-day international century, although there was a mix-up when Kohli signalled to the dressing-room for a cap, and the umpires thought he was asking for the batting powerplay. He and Sehwag didn't change their approach, and later asked for the powerplay - only to be told they had already had it: luckily, the confusion made no difference to the result. Perera took three wickets (and ran Sehwag out just short of his century), but Malinga proved expensive, breaking his own unwanted record for runs conceded (81) by a Sri Lankan on home soil; Kulasekara limped out of the series with a groin injury. Led by Sangakkara, who became the first man to pass 1,000 runs in one-day internationals in 2012, Sri Lanka made a brave effort to chase down their lofty target - but his main support came too late, in a seventh-wicket stand of 78 with Perera, whose 44 came from just 28 balls. Dhoni and the Indian team were fined afterwards for a slow over-rate.

Man of the Match: V. Kohli.

© John Wisden & Co.