B D NarayankarINDIA has the won IDBI Fortis Wealthsurance ODI series against Sri Lanka after thrashing the hosts by a huge (by 147 runs) in the third one-dayer at Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
It was India all the way. Right from the toss captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won. He may not have been happy with the start given by his openers. Sachin Tendulkar was wrongly given LBW for the third time in a row. Then Gautam Gambhir departed, run out in the most unfortunate of manners.
But once Virendra Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh got stuck into things, the balance shifted drastically and they ran away with the game.
Sehwag and Yuvraj savaged the Sri Lankan attack with blistering centuries as India ran up 363 for five.
Yuvraj smashed 117 in just 95 balls while Sehwag's 116 took 90 deliveries. The duo tore apart the Sri Lankan attack with a 221-run stand in 167 balls after India lost Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir early.
Muralitharan went for 60 in 10 overs while Mendis gave away 64 in nine overs.
The duo had their share of luck too. Farveez Maharoof was short of ground when Yuvraj miscued Mendis over mid-wicket, and Fernando palmed a tough chance over the rope when Sehwag was on 45. Sanath Jayasuriya grassed a routine caught-and-bowled chance with Sehwag on 72.
Yuvraj was finally dismissed to Muralitaharan as Chamara Kapugedera caught him at point. Sehwag was run out before skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (35 not out) and Yusuf Pathan (59 off 38 balls) carried on the assault. Pathan was punishing as he hit three sixes and four fours.
After staring at a monumental total, Sri Lanka needed Sanath Jayasuriya to give them an explosive start and that is exactly what didn't happen when Praveen Kumar removed him first ball.
Dilshan gave some heart and Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara kept the hopes alive but once they were dismissed, things got all too wrong for Lanka. Eventually, they lost by 147 runs which is their worst defeat in Sri Lanka.
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