Kohli ton lifts India

India batsman Virat Kohli raises his bat in celebration after scoring his fourth century in five matches, this one coming against Sri Lanka, in the opening ODI at the Suriyawewa Mahinda Rajapakse International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota yesterday. Photo: AFP

Virat Kohli cracked a century and Virender Sehwag made a brisk 96 as India posted a challenging 314-6 against Sri Lanka in the opening one-day international in Hambantota on Saturday.
Kohli (106) and opener Sehwag, who were dropped early in their innings, made the most of the chances as they added 173 for the second wicket to help their team set a stiff target.
India lost opener Gautam Gambhir (three) in the third over after electing to bat in the day-night match but Sehwag and Kohli propped up the innings with their big stand.
Kohli hit nine fours in a 113-ball knock for his 12th one-day hundred, and the fourth in the last five matches. He fell in the 40th over, caught by substitute fielder Sachithra Senanayake in the covers off Thisara Perera.
Sehwag, who returned to the one-day squad after missing the Asia Cup in Bangladesh in March due to an injury, looked set to complete his 16th one-day hundred before he was run out. He hit 10 fours in his 97-ball knock.
Suresh Raina smashed a 45-ball 50 and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made 35 off 29 deliveries as India scored 86 in the last 10 overs.
Sehwag had not even opened his account when he was dropped by Tillakaratne Dilshan off paceman Lasith Malinga, while Kohli survived on 16 when Perera failed to hold on to a difficult return catch.
Sri Lankan seamer Perera finished with three wickets, including those of Raina and Dhoni off successive balls, while pacemen Nuwan Kulasekara and Angelo Mathews each bagged one wicket.
Hambantota will also host the second one-dayer on July 24, while the last three matches will be played in Colombo (July 28 and 31) and Pallekele (August 4).
The one-day series will be followed by a one-off Twenty20 international in Pallekele on August 7.