Weather ends India bid

Gautam Ghambir reaches his century

India’s hopes of recording a morale-boosting victory over Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Series were dashed by the Brisbane weather.

Having made 267 for four from their 50 overs - Gautam Gambhir hitting an unbeaten 102 and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni finishing not out on 88 - India appeared well set to claim the win.

But rain intervened to end the contest without Sri Lanka having a bat.

Sunday’s triangular series opener between Australia and India was also abandoned because of rain, leaving Dhoni’s side still smarting from their Twenty20 hammering at the hands of the hosts on Friday.

There were some plusses from Tuesday’s contest, though, with Gambhir, in particular, looking in good touch.

He made Sri Lanka pay for dropping him on 11 as he went on to reach three figures to help India recover from 84 for four.

Dhoni and Gambhir put on 184, while Muttiah Muralitharan was once again the pick of the Sri Lanka attack with 2-51.

Yuvraj Singh returned from a knee injury to bolster India’s explosive batting line-up and captain Dhoni had no hesitation in electing to bat on one of the best surfaces in Australia when he won the toss.

Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag got India off to a steady start with an opening partnership of 68.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni pulls on his way to an unbeaten 88 in Brisbane © Getty Images

Tendulkar hit his 16,000th run in one-day internationals in the 12th over before falling three overs later when the 34-year-old dragged an attempted drive off Lasith Malinga on to his own stumps to depart for 35.

Sri Lanka did not have long to wait for their second wicket when Ishara Amerasinghe tempted Sehwag into attempting to pull a short ball, but the opener only succeeded in presenting wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara with a catch.

Gambhir was then dropped by Sangakkara in Amerasinghe’s next over before Muralitharan was introduced into the attack.

And the spinner made an instant impact, taking two wickets in his first over as India endured a miserable spell, losing four wickets for just 15 runs.

Yuvraj was first to fall to Muralitharan, tempted by a flighted delivery before producing an outside edge which was held at first slip by skipper Mahela Jayawardene.

And Muralitharan claimed his second wicket in three balls when Rohit Sharma was caught behind after he was adjudged to have edged another lofted delivery.

But Gambhir and Dhoni assumed control to stop the rot.

The pair accumulated runs slowly to begin with, picking off the bad balls before cutting loose as the innings drew to a close.

Gambhir reached his century with a boundary in the final over as India posted a tough target for Sri Lanka to chase.

The resumption of play was delayed for more than two hours as drizzle turned into heavier rain, and with further storms forecast for the rest of the evening the match was eventually abandoned.