Dilshan helps Sri Lanka level series

With another evening of thrilling batting, Tillakaratne Dilshan demonstrated every single reason that Sri Lanka decided to open the innings with him permanently in January. Dilshan's third fifth one-day century, and second in a row, was the dominant force in Sri Lanka clinching victory.

He contributed 63 to a 102-run opening stand, playing with the freedom and control fans have grown accustomed to, and then in the period where India followed a double-strike with 12 boundary-less overs, Dilshan collected his ton while ensuring the asking rate stayed in control.

Needing to score at over a run a ball, Dilshan got the chase off to a brisk start. And as often happens, India failed to apply pressure from both ends. If Zaheer Khan allowed just a run off his second over, Praveen Kumar leaked three consecutive fours in his, veering between too wide and too full. Ashish Nehra wasn't allowed to settle, with both openers punching aerial down the ground, and Zaheer's length was offset by a manipulative Dilshan. Sri Lanka's fifty came up in 6.3 overs, most of the runs coming down the ground.

It was enthralling batting from Dilshan. Zaheer and Nehra tried to push him back but he rode the bounce, and at times luck - such as when he danced out to Nehra and edged for four. Whenever the ball was pitched up, Dilshan, at times batting out of his crease, plonked his front foot further forward and clunked powerful drives over mid-off and mid-on.

Dilshan spent 16 deliveries in the nineties, reached his century, raised his arms, and promptly clubbed Nehra for two dingers that snapped a 12-over barren run of no boundaries. He featured in a 66-run fourth-wicket stand with Mahela Jayawardene, which ended when Nehra bowled Dilshan with a fine yorker.