January 31, 2009 (AFP) – Yuvraj Singh smashed a half-century to help India post a competitive 256-9 in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka here on Saturday. The middle-order batsman made an impressive 66 for his 38th half-century after his side had lost three wickets for 83 runs. He steadied the innings with an 85-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suresh Raina (29).
Yuvraj hit one six and seven fours in his 88-ball knock before falling to a dubious decision, adjudged leg-before by Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Silva off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara.
The TV replays suggested the batsman had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.
India managed just 46 in the closing 10 overs as seamer Farveez Maharoof (2-40) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan did not allow the batsmen to score freely with their disciplined bowling in the day-night match.
Record-seeking Muralitharan went wicketless but conceded only 32 in his 10 tight overs. He is still two wickets short of surpassing former Pakistani paceman Wasim Akram’s world record of 502.
India got off to a brisk start after winning the toss as they raced to 83 off 12.2 overs but lost three