Spinners tie down India to 264

India's new-look middle-order had its first serious test in the absence of vastly experienced trio of MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, and it stuttered badly against Sri Lanka's spinners. Ajantha Mendis, completing a three-man spin attack on a low-and-slow surface, got the wickets of the two batsmen who spent time in the middle, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, as India's innings unravelled in the death to leave a target of 265. India's openers took a while to come to terms the lack of pace and bounce, with Rohit Sharma crouching after the first ball hit low on the blade, and India making only three from the first three overs. There were plenty of edges as well, and though Dhawan cashed in on a few wide deliveries, Rohit perished in the 10th over, given lbw though he was well out of the crease. That brought on the best phase of India's innings, as the supremely reliable Kohli and Dhawan put on a 97-run stand. Even Kohli, who has racked up an ODI record to envy in recent years, didn't find it easy early on. Still, both batsmen worked the singles to make sure the pressure never built up, according to espncricinfo.com.