[Watch] Highlights from the first-ever tied ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Adelaide in 2012
India and Sri Lanka featured in a dramatic tie in the first one-dayer of the three-match series being played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Batting first after winning the toss on Friday, August 2, the hosts put up 230-8 in the 50 overs. In response, the Men in Blue were bowled out for 230 all out in 47.5 overs.
Sri Lanka's total was built around Pathum Nissanka's 56 and Dunith Wellalage's 67*. For India, Axar Patel claimed 2-33. In the chase, skipper Rohit Sharma hammered 58, but the visitors lost their way after his dismissal as wickets kept falling at regular intervals. Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka trapped Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh lbw off consecutive deliveries to tie the contest.
Friday's match marked only the second instance of an India vs Sri Lanka one-dayer ending in a tie. On that note, let's revisit the first-ever tied game between the two Asian sides in the 50-over format.
When MS Dhoni held his nerve to guide India to a tie against Sri Lanka
The first tied one-dayer between India and Sri Lanka was played at the Adelaide Oval in February 2012 during the Commonwealth Bank Series in match number five. Batting first after winning the toss, the Lankans put up 236-9 on the board in their 50 overs. The Men in Blue also replied with 236-9.
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Opener Upul Tharanga fell for a duck to Vinay Kumar. Dinesh Chandimal, however, top-scored for Sri Lanka with 81 off 91 to lift the batting side, hitting six fours and a six. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene also chipped in with 43 off 49 balls. For India, Vinay Kumar claimed 3-46, while Ravichandran Ashwin picked up 2-30.
In India's chase of 237, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli and Rohit all fell for 15 runs each. However, opener Gautam Gambhir anchored the innings with 91 off 106 balls. He struck six fours in his defiant knock before being run-out following a mix-up skipper MS Dhoni.
After Gambhir's dismissal, Dhoni stayed till the end and guided the Men in Blue to a famous tie. He struck three fours and a six to keep India in the hunt even as wickets kept falling at the other end. The equation came down to four needed off the last ball bowled by Lasith Malinga. Dhoni whacked a full and wide delivery over extra cover and completed three runs to level the scores.