Sri Lanka stunned India while recording the highest run chase at the Kennington Oval in London with an emphatic 7-wicket win in a Group 'B' match of the ICC Champions Trophy on Thursday (8).
India, put into bat posted a mammoth 321 with opener Shikhar Dhawan top scoring 125 off 128 deliveries as he got together with Rohit Sharma to form an opening stand of 138 runs.
Sri Lanka were nowhere in the sight of a victory when former skipper MS Dhoni came down the order to hammer 63 off 52 deliveries inclusive of seven fours and two sixes.
Dhawan hit 15 fours and a six while Sharma faced 79 balls for his 78 which had six fours and three sixes.
Kedar Jadhav clobbered 25 not out off 13 balls inclusive three fours and a six.
Lasith Malinga claimed two wickets while Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Thissara Perera and Asela Gunaratne picked a wicket each.
Sri Lanka got off to a bad start when they lost the wicket of opener Niroshan Dickwella at 11 but then a second wicket partnership of 159 runs between Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis put them on the right track to a deserving win.
Gunathilaka achieved his career best by scoring 76 off just 72 deliveries inclusive of seven fours and two sixes, one which brought his half century.
Mendis, who was the man of the match, faced 93 deliveries to score 89 and he hit 11 fours and a six before being run out as his partner Gunathilaka.
Sri Lanka were three down at 196 in the 33rd over but Kusal Perera and skipper Angelo Mathews carried forward the momentum with an unbroken partnership of 75 runs for the third wicket.
Perera had to retire himself after suffering a hamstring injury when he was on top form at 47 off 44 deliveries with five fours.
Mathews was joined by Asela Gunaratne who carried Sri Lanka to the winning post with an unbroken stand of 41 runs as the skipper remained unbeaten on 52 off 45 balls inclusive of six fours, after making his first ODI appearance since last August.
Gunaratne hammered an unbeaten 34 off 21 deliveries with two fours and two sixes.
After Sri Lanka's stunning win against India, the Group 'B' remains open with two more matches remaining.
Winners of each game are assured of a semi-final spot with India taking on South Africa at The Oval on Sunday (11) and Sri Lanka set to meet Pakistan on Monday (12) at Cardiff.
India 321 for 6 wickets (50) (Rohit Sharma 78, Shikhar Dhawan 125, MS Dhoni 63, Kedar Jadhav 25n.o, Lasith Malinga 2/70)
Sri Lanka 322 for 3 wickets (48.4) (Danushka Gunathilaka 76, Kusal Mendis 89, Kusal Perera 47rtd hurt, Angelo Mathews 52n.o, Asela Gunaratne 34n.o.)
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