Mirpur: 5.53 pm 2nd Over : Tillakaratne Dilshan clobbered a short delivery of Praveen Kumar to the fence and then Jayawardene elegantly cut one past point for the second boundary. 5.48 pm 1st Over : Irfan Pathan started off the proceedings for India and Jayawardene picked up the first boundary flicking one from his pads. Indian Innings The preview of the first match of the Asia cup for India revolved around the all elusive 100th 100 for Sachin Tendulkar. But, in the 6th over when Lakmal sent the Master Blaster packing, the unsung hero and pin-up boy of Indian cricket took centre stage.

Southpaw Gautam Gambhir (100 off 118 balls) had accumulated runs in the past year and in the CB series in heap without any fuss. On the other hand, Virat Kohli (108 off 118) played his big knocks when the team needed it the most. With the ‘home advantage’ (read as absolute belter) the Indian outfit where a changed unit. Dhoni chipped in with a 26-ball 46 runs and his trusted ally Suresh Raina racked up 30 off 17 balls. India got a total of 304/3. Last 10 overs produced 95 runs and the last 5 a mammoth 63 runs.

For Sri Lanka without Malinga the bowling unit was devoid of their engine and an ever astute Mahela Jayawardene had no one to bank upon. Suranga Lakmal (1/67) though, replacement for Malinga bowled his heart out plucking Sachin Tendulkar and maintained a miserly economy until the death overs where Dhioni and Raina went berserk.

Farveez Mahroof was successful in checking the Gauti-Virat charge to some extent during the batting powerplay overs and eventually he got the reward with both their wickets. Overs (41-50) India 304/3 Run Rate: 6.08 5.05 pm 50st Over : With a six of the last ball India reached a total of 304/3 in the allotted 50 overs as Dhoni 46 off 26 and Raina 30 off 17 took full advantage of the platform setup by Gautam Gambhir (100) and Virat Kohli (108).

4.50 pm 48th Over : After the solid platform provided by Gauti and Virat, a bloodbath was on the cards and Dhoni and Raina where the best two players to be in the middle. Dhoni clubbed three consecutive fours of Kulasekara taking the tally of last three overs to 40 runs.

4.27 pm 43rd Over : OUT!!! Double wicket over F.O.W. 224/2 and F.O.W. 226/3 Finally the partnership was broken as Gambhir (100 off 118 balls) hoisted a full length delivery managing to find Upul Tharanga at long-on. Two balls later Virat Kohli (108 off 120 balls) also perished as Farveez Maharoof got his reward in the form of two big wickets. The momentum will surely be halted.

4.20 pm 42nd Over : Centuries for both Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. Both the Delhi lads notched up their 10th ODI hundred in what was an identical innings from both of them. Overs (31-40) India 209/1 Run Rate: 5.23 4.04 pm 39th Over : Kohli and Gambhir kept on building a mammoth partnership as India reached 200-run mark in under 40 overs. India 201/1

3.42 pm 35th Over : Jayawardene is clearly tied with his lack of blowing options. With 7 batsmen and no Malinga, the captain is rotating his part-timers. It’s Kapugedera into the attack now. Only time will tell when the duo of Gauti and Virat will explode on these part-timers. 3.30 pm 31st Over : Sri Lankan captain persisted with Dilshan as Kohli amped up the tempo. He had hit a powerful cover drive for four off Prasanna the previous over and he reverse paddle sweeped Dilshan for a four in this over. Commentator Rohan Abheysinghe termed the shot as arrogant. India 151/1

Overs (21-30) India 142/1 Run Rate: 4.73 3.24 pm 28th Over : Now the vice-captain reaches his half century, 22nd of his career. 3.20 pm 25rd Over : And with a double the pair raised their 100 run partnership of just 122 balls. Perfect platform for India to thrust from here. What do you reckon India's score will at the end? India 120/1 3.05 pm 23rd Over : Gambhir nudged one from his pads and brought up India’s 100.

Overs (11-20) India 88/1 Run Rate: 4.40 2.56 pm 20th Over : Gambhir racked up another half century in 59 balls. Hope he makes it to three figures this time around. 2.47 pm 17th Over : Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli notched up 50-run partnership. India 71/1 2.41 pm 16th Over : Reprieve for Gambhir (37) as he is dropped by Chandimal at long on. Dinesh Chandimal had problems holding on to high catches down under and the youngster spills one here as well of Seekkuge Prasanna.

2.35 pm 15th Over : Bowling powerplay starts, bet you forgot about that! Maharoof into the attack as Gambhir (36) and Kohli (22) look to build a solid foundation. Meanwhile, do you think Tiwary should have been included in the playing XI? Post your views here. 2.16 pm 11th Over : Dilshan into the attack replacing Kulasekara. Overs (1-10): India 43/1: Run Rate: 4.30 2.14 pm 9th Over : Carrying forward the momentum from the CB series, Gautam Gambhir seemed to have the measure of the Mirpur track as he went about his business with ease scoring at run a ball courtesy three boundaries. India 39/1

1.58 pm 6th Over : OUT!!! F.O.W.19/1 Sachin Tendulkar (6) out to a full toss. Suranga Lakmal had bowled a full toss earlier which Sachin failed to put away and here also Sachin could only manage an uppish drive with no power as Lakmal bowled another full toss. Mahela Jayawerdene at short cover took a good low catch. The milestone remains elusive even after a year and a day.

1.46 pm 3rd Over : First boundary of the day. Sachin Tendulkar after being tested in the first over by Nuwan Kulasekara drove on past the point boundary. He played it a tad late opening the face of the bat: India: 9/0 Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and opted to bowl first in the second ODI of the Asia Cup 2012 on Tuesday. Sri Lanka are handicapped with the absence of pace spearhead Lasith Malinga. He will be replaced by Suranga Lakmal. India opted for Ravindra Jadeja ahead of Yusuf Pathan.

India face a tough test in their opening fixture as they face an in-form Sri Lankan side in the Asia Cup 2012 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur today. With a series of failures in the recent past, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and men are left to prove a point to earn back the battered reputation. Pitch report: Even though there was some grass present on the pitch it would hardly change the nature of the pitch. Expert opinion: Should be good for batting.

"We were looking to bowl first as well. It is not a bad thing to bat first as well. We are happy with the team that we have got. We are going through a transition phase, it is not a settled side, youngsters are still looking to seal places in the side, there is a lot of competition, which is good. It is good to have the experience of Sachin in the side," Dhoni said after losing toss.

India: MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, R Vinay Kumar. Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Seekkuge Prasanna.