India beat Sri Lanka in 4th ODI, clinch series

Font Size

Print

Feedback

Email

Discuss

Related Articles

Lanka beat India by 112 runs in final ODIInconsistent batting did us in: JayawardeneRaina happy to be able to read Mendis, MuraliIndia beat Sri Lanka in 4th ODI, clinch series

Colombo, August 27:: A spirited India tonight recorded their first-ever bilateral ODI series win against Sri Lanka in their backyard as they spanked the hosts by 46 runs in the fourth ODI to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

After putting a competitive target of 259 before the Lankans, Indian bowlers skittled out the hosts for 212 in 46.3 overs.

With this win India pocketed the five-match series with one match to spare which is scheduled for Friday and avenged their Test series drubbing.

The Indian bowlers had their task cut out right from the word go as Munaf Patel (2/48) once again impressed with the new ball, scalping the first two wickets. Malinda Warnapura (0) was the first to go without scoring after he was caught in front of the wicket by Munaf. However, TV replays showed the ball might have gone over the stumps.

Out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara (6), dropped to the No 3 position following his woeful run in the tournament, failed once again as he played on a Munaf delivery.

However, veteran Sanath Jayasuriya (60 of 52 balls) was at his explosive best and with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (16) he put up a crucial 74-run stand for the fourth wicket to steady the Lankan innings.

Jayasuriya's dominance can be gauged from the fact that in the 74-run partnership, Jayawardene contributed only six runs.

However, an important bowling change by Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni in the 17th over, bringing in Harbhajan Singh (3/40) in place of Praveen Kumar, saw Jayasuriya's downfall.

In the third ball of his first over, Harbhajan picked up the crucial wicket of Jayasuriya after the Lankan edged a turner and Suresh Raina made no mistake in the first slip and reacted sharply to pounce on the opportunity.

The Lankan's received yet another blow when in-form Jayawrdene was caught short off the crease by Kohli following a terrible mix up with Chamara Kapugedera (30) to reel the hosts at 106 for 4 in 24.3 overs.

Most of the Lankan middle-order batsmen got a start but failed to capitalise on that and kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Next to go was Tilakratne Dilshan (12), who was wrapped on the pads by Harbhajan in his seventh over which brought an end to his 25-run stand with Kapugedera, thereby exposing the Lankan tail.

Four overs later, Kapugedera followed suit after he was caught in front of the wicket by Yuvraj (2/53).