India 304-3 (Kohli 108, Gambhir 100) beat Sri Lanka 254 (Mahela Jayawardene 78, Kumar Sangakkara 65, Irfan Pathan 4-32) by 50 runs.

The young guns of India, Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir thrashed centuries as Sri Lanka lost the encounter by 50 runs in the Asia Cup 2012.

India piled up 304 runs for the loss of just three wickets and Sri Lankan innings was folded back for 254 in 45.1 overs.

Virat Kohli was declared ‘Player of the match’ for his well crafted innings of 108 runs off 120 balls.

The second match of the tournament was played at Sere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur on March 13, 2012.

Earlier, Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and sent India in to bat, the innings was opened by Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir. The Blue Shirts suffered an early blow when they lost the wicket of little master Sachin Tendulkar for just six runs. The first wicket fell at 19 runs when the two youngsters, Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli joined together in the middle.

They kept the score board moving without taking any possible risks and took the score to 62 in the first 15 overs. Gambhir got a life when he was dropped at 36 by Dinesh Chandimal at long on off Seekkuge prasanna. The chance was utilized by the batsman who reached his fifty on the last ball of the 20^th over which earned him two runs.

Kohli joined him once he achieved his fifty in the 28^th over and both of them kept cruising towards a big total with the odd boundaries. The second hundred of the innings was completed in 39^th over and the batsmen were marching towards their individual tons.

Both top guns of India smashed their centuries in the 42^nd over and tried to accelerate the scoring. Gambhir lost his wicket on the third ball of the next over off Farveez Maharoof for exact 100 runs from118 balls with seven fours. Kohli followed him at the fourth ball for 108 off 120 deliveries which included 7 fours.

The second wicket contributed 205 runs as MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina played hurried knocks at the closure of the innings. They remained unbeaten for 46 and 30 respectively as the Blue Shirts posted on board a mammoth total of 304 runs after losing mere three wickets.

Sri Lankan openers made a poor start when Tillakaratne Dilshan was gone for seven runs at the total of 31. The experienced duo of Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara kept on consolidating the innings as the first was more aggressive of the two. The initial fifty was scored in the ninth over and Jayawardene got his individual half century on the second ball of the 13^th over.

The skipper became more aggressive after his fifty and the runs were being added frequently by both of them. Mahela Jayawardene was caught behind by Dhoni off Irfan Pathan for 78 at the cost of just 59 balls with two sixes and 10 fours. The second wicket was lost at 124 as Sangakkara took charge and tried to dictate his terms to the bowlers. He accumulated 28 runs for the third wicket with Dinesh Chandimal and became the next victim after scoring 65 runs as the total touched 196 runs.

The Blue Shirts demonstrated penetrative bowling and they ripped through the batting of the Islanders. The wickets kept on sliding and entire team was bowled out for 254 runs with 29 balls to spare.

Irfan Pathan was star performer with four wickets, Vinay Kumar and Ravichandran Ashwin shared three wickets each.

India accomplished the much needed victory while defeating Sri Lanka by 50 runs which will enhance their chances towards clinching the Asia Cup for the sixth time.