ICC Champions Trophy 2013: Semi Final 2: India v/s SL - Heroes of the Day

I really don’t see the point of India playing Sri Lanka too many times in a single calendar year. Be that as it may, the 2011 World Cup finalists squared off in the second semi-final of the final edition of the Champions Trophy. Beset by a wet outfield and an injury scare to the experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Emerald Islanders could only manage to post 181 on the board. That total never looked threatening to the Indians, and they won with 8 wickets and 15 overs to spare.

Here are some of the Heroes of the Day:

Angelo Mathews (51 runs off 89 balls – 1 four, 1 six; 1/10 off 4 overs)

Skipper Angelo Mathews played a calculated innings as he joined former captain Mahela Jayawardene with his side reeling at 41/3. The two added 78 runs for the fourth wicket – the highest of the SL innings – in order to give their bowlers a defendable total. Mathews also struck the only six off the innings – a powerful thwack over long-on off Ishant Sharma – which was easily the best shot of his knock. With the ball, the 26-year old all-rounder dismissed the entrenched Rohit Sharma, but by then the platform had already been set for India’s eventual win.