HARARE: Dinesh Chandimal scored his first international century to steer Sri Lanka to a six-wicket win over India in the tri-nations one-day series on Saturday.
The 20-year-old right-hander hit 111 off 118 balls at Harare Sports Club as Sri Lanka reached 270-4 with 10 balls to spare in response to India's 268-9.
The Sri Lankans now meet host Zimbabwe in Wednesday's final. The two teams also play on Monday in the last of the preliminary matches.
India captain Suresh Raina refused to blame his team's elimination on players' lack of experience of 50-over cricket.
''They have been playing first-class cricket back home and they have been doing well,'' Raina said. ''The youngsters need to raise their game. They need to work on their fitness, work on their game. They need to work on their mistakes and move on.''
Chandimal's innings included six boundaries and five sixes. He shared a 114-run third wicket stand with Nuwan Kapugedera, who scored 42 off 60 balls.
Man-of-the-match Chandimal, who made his debut against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in this series, played aggressively, having a go at anything short of a decent width.
Kapugedera played the supporting role before his miscued shot in the 37th over found Pankaj Singh in the deep off Pragyan Ojha's bowling.
Sri Lanka's chase faltered when captain Tillakaratne Dilshan on 21 pulled a delivery from Ashok Dinda to Yusuf Pathan at mid-on.
Opener Upul Tharanga was caught by Virat Kohli from spinner Ravichandra Ashwin's turning ball in the 15th over.
But Chandimal and Kapugedera's partnership eased the worries of a Sri Lanka collapse. Chandimal was only removed in the 41th over when he missed a straight ball from Ashwin and was stumped.
Jeewan Mendis (35 not out) and Thusara Samaraweera, unbeaten on 28, finished it off for Sri Lanka with relative ease after 48.2 overs.
Earlier, Kohli had top-scored with 68 as India totaled 268-9. Batting at number three, Kohli faced 94 balls, hitting five boundaries on a flat wicket. Pathan chipped in with 44 runs.
Pace bowler Thilan Mirando was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers, taking 3-57, while offspinner Suraj Randiv claimed 2-38.
Dilshan said his team will go all out against Zimbabwe on Monday. ''We will go into it 100 per cent'' he said. ''We are not going to relax.''
The 20-year-old right-hander hit 111 off 118 balls at Harare Sports Club as Sri Lanka reached 270-4 with 10 balls to spare in response to India's 268-9.
The Sri Lankans now meet host Zimbabwe in Wednesday's final. The two teams also play on Monday in the last of the preliminary matches.
India captain Suresh Raina refused to blame his team's elimination on players' lack of experience of 50-over cricket.
''They have been playing first-class cricket back home and they have been doing well,'' Raina said. ''The youngsters need to raise their game. They need to work on their fitness, work on their game. They need to work on their mistakes and move on.''
Chandimal's innings included six boundaries and five sixes. He shared a 114-run third wicket stand with Nuwan Kapugedera, who scored 42 off 60 balls.
Man-of-the-match Chandimal, who made his debut against Zimbabwe at Bulawayo in this series, played aggressively, having a go at anything short of a decent width.
Kapugedera played the supporting role before his miscued shot in the 37th over found Pankaj Singh in the deep off Pragyan Ojha's bowling.
Sri Lanka's chase faltered when captain Tillakaratne Dilshan on 21 pulled a delivery from Ashok Dinda to Yusuf Pathan at mid-on.
Opener Upul Tharanga was caught by Virat Kohli from spinner Ravichandra Ashwin's turning ball in the 15th over.
But Chandimal and Kapugedera's partnership eased the worries of a Sri Lanka collapse. Chandimal was only removed in the 41th over when he missed a straight ball from Ashwin and was stumped.
Jeewan Mendis (35 not out) and Thusara Samaraweera, unbeaten on 28, finished it off for Sri Lanka with relative ease after 48.2 overs.
Earlier, Kohli had top-scored with 68 as India totaled 268-9. Batting at number three, Kohli faced 94 balls, hitting five boundaries on a flat wicket. Pathan chipped in with 44 runs.
Pace bowler Thilan Mirando was the pick of the Sri Lanka bowlers, taking 3-57, while offspinner Suraj Randiv claimed 2-38.
Dilshan said his team will go all out against Zimbabwe on Monday. ''We will go into it 100 per cent'' he said. ''We are not going to relax.''
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