India register their first win in tri-series

Virat Kohli plays a shot

Indian bowling allrounders Ravindra Jadeja and R Ashwin played sensibly for the 7th wicket partnership to steer India to the victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI at Perth on Wednesday.

This was Ashwin's best day on tour as he claimed three crucial wickets of middle order batsmen after Zaheer Khan had mainly dismissed the top order.

Tillakaratne Dilshan fought through Zaheer's opening to crawl to 48 runs before Dinesh Chandimal (68) took charge and added 52 in 11.2 overs with Jayawardene. Sri Lanka was hoping for more than 250 runs but Indian bowlers ceased them to just 234 runs.

Indian openers did not scored much and and the inexperienced middle order also failed but Virat Kohli's 77 had set the agenda and after his run out India's lower order Ashwin and Jadeja did the rest holding their nerves against Lasith Malinga to chase the final 54 runs.

Virat Kohli's half-century is his 19th in ODIs to go with eight centuries. He now has 2968 runs in 76 matches at an average of 47.11. It is also his sixth half-century against Sri Lanka.

Score Card