India Legends ended the dream run of Sri Lanka Legends with a comprehensive 33-run win in the final of the Road Safety World Series in Rajpur last night.
TM Dilshan-led Sri Lanka Legends were flying high after winning all four group matches but they came up short against India for the second time in succession in the title clash.
Chasing a target of 196, Sri Lanka replied with 162 all out. Sri Lanka Legends started poorly losing Sanath Jayasuriya for just five runs in the second over bowled by Vinay Kumar. Fellow opener Dilshan Munaweera hit a couple of boundaries before being stumped by Ojha off Pawar. With the power play yielding just 33 runs, skipper Dilshan also perished cheaply as he tried to step up the tempo. The match was as good as over as a contest when Upul Tharanga became Ojha’s third victim as Sri Lanka stumbled to 41 for four in the eighth over.
Earlier, India propelled by a brilliant unbeaten century by opener Naman Ojha (108) made 195 for six after opting to bat first.
Ojha cracked 15 fours and two sixes during his 71-ball knock to steady the shepherd in the Indian innings after skipper Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina fell cheaply.
India were tottering at 19 for two from three overs after Tendulkar was castled for a golden duck by medium pacer Nuwan Kulasekera in the first over of the match while Raina fell in his next over.
Ojha and Vinay Kumar spearheaded their recovery with a third wicket partnership of 90 while maintaining a healthy run-rate. Kumar’s 36 contained four boundaries and a six before Isuru Udana took a superb catch in the deep to break the stand in the 12th over.
Kulasekera returned to pick up his 20th wicket of the tournament when Dilshan scooped a brilliant catch to account to send back Yuvraj. Despite some superb death bowling by Prasad, Ojha kept up the tempo reaching his century by whipping Jayaratne for a flat six over midwicket.
Scores
India Legends: 195 for 6 (20) (Naman Ojha 108 not out, Vinay Kumar 36, Yuvraj Singh 19, Irfan Pathan 11; Nuwan Kulasekera 3/29, Isuru Udana 2/34)
Sri Lanka Legends: 162 (18.5) (Tillakaratne Dilshan 11, Asela Gunaratne 19, Jeevan Mendis 20, Ishan Jayaratne 51, Mahela Udawatte 26, A. Mithun 2/27, V. Kumar 3/38)