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Virat Kohli hits out against Sri Lanka - Source: Reuters
Batsman Virat Kohli's 12th century in one-day international play steered India to a 21-run victory over Sri Lanka at Hambantota overnight.
Coming in when his side lost opener Gautam Gambhir after just sevens, Kohli combined with Virender Sehwag for a 173-run second-wicket stand that set the foundation for a score of 314.
While the home team chased valiantly, they lost their way during their own second-wicket stand - 77 runs off 105 balls between Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga - and were never able to get ahead of the asking rate from that point.
Kohli's 106 runs came in 113 balls and included nine boundaries. It was his third consecutive ODI century against Sri Lanka and his fourth in five innings.
Sehwag was even more belligerent in his knock of 96 (97 balls, 10 fours), but when Kohli fell at 228 for four in the 40th over, the middle order of Suresh Raina (50 off 45 balls) and MS Dhoni (35 off 29) took up the baton with a 79-run stand that guided their side over the 300 mark.
In response, Sangakarra set the tone with 133 runs for Sri Lanka, before he was bowled by Umesh Yadav. While he led all scorers for the match, it took too long and and he couldn't find a worthy ally until Thisara Perera, who had three wickets with the ball, arrived for a late 44 runs off 28 balls.
But the hosts just ran out of balls, as Kohli was named Man of the Match.
The two sides face off for the second of five ODI's at the same venue on Tuesday.