Epic ODI Clash: India Edge Out Sri Lanka in Thrilling Match

On This Day In 2009 Cricket:One-Day Internationals might not be the most sought-after format of Cricket today in a T20-dominant calendar, but there was a time when it peaked and offered blockbuster matches to cricket fans. On December 15, 2009, India and Sri Lanka were part of an epic clash in Rajkot, with both teams scoring over 400 runs and the hosts winning the thriller by just 3 runs. Famous for being home to the flattest deck in the country, the old Rajkot ground saw India being asked to bat first before the hosts piled on a mammoth score of 414/7 in their 50 overs. Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar played a delightful knock of 69, while skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni blazed an innings of 72 after promoting himself to No.3. But the real destruction was caused by the Nawab of Najafgarh himself. Virender Sehwag batted in his true element and played an excellent knock of 146 off just 102 deliveries, including 17 fours and 6 sixes. Once the great trio departed, India stuttered against a Lankan attack that used the older ball better and made sure the hosts couldn’t completely take the match away. Given the surface, the Lankan Lions were in the contest even with an imposing target of 415. Later on, the Sri Lankan top 3 took a leaf out of Tendulkar, Sehwag, and Dhoni’s book, starting their innings on a blistering note. Left-hander Upul Tharanga produced a free-flowing 67 and shared a tremendous opening stand of 188 runs with the aggressive Tillakaratne Dilshan. Dilshan retained his great form and came up with an extraordinary knock of 160. Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara played an extravagant innings of his own, smashing 90 off just 43 deliveries. Before the Dilshan-Sangakkara pair was separated, Sri Lanka looked set to achieve one of their greatest ODI wins at 1 down for 316 in the 37th over. But then Sangakkara’s dismissal led to a turnaround the Indians were desperately waiting for. A series of wickets fell and the visitors needed a calculated knock from young all-rounder Angelo Matthews (38) to reach close. Swipe Left For Next Video With 11 needed off 6, left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra delivered a fantastic 50th over. Holding his nerves under pressure, Nehra got Matthews miscueing an attempted big hit into the hands of Tendulkar and sealed the Indian victory. Sri Lanka inning ended at 411/8.