{
    "id": "4511",
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    "title": "Kohli's century helps India sweep ODI series",
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    "article_type": "General",
    "excerpt": "Ranchi, Nov 16 (IANS) India skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with a smashing unbeaten century to guide his team to a three-wicket win in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI), clean-sweeping the series 5-0 at the JSCA International Stadium here Sunday.",
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    "editor1": "<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Ranchi, Nov 16 (IANS) India skipper Virat Kohli led from the front with a smashing unbeaten century to guide his team to a three-wicket win in the fifth and final One-Day International (ODI), clean-sweeping the series 5-0 at the JSCA International Stadium here Sunday.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">On a day of captains, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hammered a brilliant 139 not out to guide the visitors to a challenging total of 286\/8 after electing to bat. However, despite a few hiccups, Kohli&#39;s knock of 139 not out off 126 deliveries -- his 21st ODI ton -- guided India home with eight balls to spare.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">After hitting his first ODI century, Mathews gave Sri Lanka a brilliant chance in the match as he bowled Indian openers Ajinkya Rahane (2) and Rohit Sharma (9), who hit a world-record 264 in the previous match at Kolkata, with the score reading 14\/2 in the fifth over.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">In come Ambati Rayudu (59) and man of the series Kohli who joined hands to strike an important 136-run third-wicket partnership to stabilise the reeling Indian ship. Rayudu hit a smooth half-century, which included eight boundaries and a six, with Kohli giving him good company.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">However, a terrible misunderstanding led to Rayudu&#39;s run-out with India&#39;s score at 150.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Ajantha Mendis&#39; spin became a mystery for Indian batsman as the 29-year-old made a brilliant turnaround for the visitors, giving them a real chance to salvage a win.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Mendis took the wickets of Robin Uthappa (19), debutant Kedar Jadhav (20), Stuart Binny (12) and Ravichandran Ashwin (0) to turn the tables on India with the target suddenly looking monumental with their score at 231\/7.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Kohli, however, slowly kept the run-flow going and finally found support in left-hander Axar Patel (17 not out).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Once he got the support he needed, the stand-in India skipper hit a flurry of sixes and boundaries and the target kept getting closer and closer till Kohli hit a six to win the match -- and clean-sweep the series.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Earlier, Sri Lanka got off to a decent start with opener Tillakaratne Dilshan (35) in punishing mood.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Debutant Niroshan Dickwella (4) was the first to be dismissed in the fifth over. The visitors suffered another setback in the next over as the dangerous Dilshan was sent packing by the innocuous medium-pace of Binny.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Sri Lanka lost some impetus after Dilshan&#39;s dismissal and lost further ground following two more quick strikes by India.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal&#39;s (5 runs off 31 balls) struggle at the crease was brought to an end by Patel, who picked up two wickets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Former captain Mahela Jayawardene&#39;s (32) blossoming innings came to a pre-mature end as Sri Lanka slumped to 85\/4 after 18.3 overs.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Man of the Match Mathews and Lahiru Thirimanne (52) got together and stitched a 128-run stand for the fifth wicket to bring the islanders back in the game.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">The Sri Lanka skipper smashed 10 sixes on way to his maiden hundred and, thanks to his blitzkrieg at the fag end of the innings, the visitors managed to score 73 runs off the final five overs despite losing three wickets.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><span style=\"font-size:14px\"><span style=\"font-family:arial\">Dhawal Kulkarni picked up three wickets but received some stick from the Sri Lankan batsmen, conceding 57 runs off his eight overs. Patel and Ashwin chipped in with two wickets each while Binny took one.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\r\n",
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    "created": "2015-02-09 19:28:00",
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