Sangakkara leads Sri Lanka revival

A brilliant century from Kumar Sangakkara helped Sri Lanka post 238 for six against India in the Commonwealth Bank Series match at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

The wicketkeeper-batsman shared a 153-run third-wicket stand with captain Mahela Jayawardene (71) to get the Sri Lankans back on track after they had slipped to six for two with the dismissals of Tillakaratne Dilshan (four) and Sanath Jayasuriya (nought) inside the first three overs.

Sangakkara (128) and Chamara Silva (21) added a brisk 50-run partnership off 46 balls to push India's required run-rate to just under five an over.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sri Lanka lost their first wicket to Munaf Patel's fourth ball as Dilshan prodded a curving delivery into the grateful hands of Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Two overs later, Sangakkara's straight drive off Patel was tipped onto the stumps by the bowler - who was looking to stop a certain boundary of the overpitched delivery rather than anything else - and ran out non-striker Jayasuriya who had strayed out of his ground.

Sangakkara and Jayawardene then steadied the ship, the wicketkeeper bringing up his 50 in 88 balls.

Jayawardene's half-century and the 100 partnership between the two quickly followed before Sangakkara was given a reprieve as he fended a Praveen Kumar delivery straight to short mid-wicket but a no-ball was called as the delivery was above waist-height.

India finally made a breakthrough in the 38th over as another straight drive from Sangakkara, this time off Kumar, was turned onto the stumps by the alert bowler to catch Jayawardene out of his ground and end the crucial partnership to leave Sri Lanka 159 for three.

Chamara Kapugedera contributed just one run before a direct hit from Rohit Sharma ran him out at the non-striker's end as he looked for a single following a push to point off Ishant Sharma.

Sangakkara brought up his third one-day century against India and seventh overall off 141 balls with a boundary over long-on off Patel as Sri Lanka edged over the 200 mark.