COLOMBO: India survived Sanath Jayasuriya’s explosive half-century to clinch the series against Sri Lanka with a 46-run victory in the fourth One-Day International here yesterday.
India restricted the hosts to 212 under lights after posting 258 for an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. It was their first-ever bilateral one-day series victory in Sri Lanka. The tourists were well-served by batsmen Suresh Raina (76), skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71) and teenager Virat Kohli (54) before off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bagged three wickets, including that of Jayasuriya. Left-handed opener Jayasuriya posed the main threat to India, giving a magnificent display of power-hitting to smash two sixes and eight fours in his 52-ball 60.
Indian seamer Munaf Patel removed Malinda Warnapura for no score and out-of-form Kumar Sangakkara (six) in three overs to send the hosts struggling at 38-2, but was punished by Jayasuriya who pulled the bowler for two sixes.
The tourists heaved a sigh of relief when Harbhajan dismissed Jayasuriya with his third delivery, with Raina taking a sharp one-handed catch at first slip.
India virtually made sure of the win when skipper Mahela Jayawardene was run out going for a risky single. Jayawardene, who made 94 in the last match, could contribute only 16 this time to leave his team in trouble at 106-4.
Sri Lanka were yet again let down by batting as only lower-order batsman Thilan Thushara could offer resistance after Jayasuriya’s dismissal. Thushara, who also bagged five wickets, cracked a 29-ball 40 with two sixes. Raina and Dhoni earlier added 143 for the fourth wicket as India reached a competitive total despite a late collapse. The tourists were all set for the late onslaught when they made 215-3 in 40 overs, but the dismissals of well-set Raina and Dhoni in quick succession affected their chances of posting a big total.
India lost seven wickets for 34 runs in the last nine overs, with left-arm seamer Thushara finishing with 5-47 for his maiden five-wicket haul.
The 19-year-old Kohli put India on the right track with a maiden fifty after his captain won a fourth consecutive toss of the series, adding 44 for the opening wicket with Gautam Gambhir (17).
Sri Lanka struck back with three wickets in the space of 37 runs to reduce India to 81-3 before running into Raina and Dhoni, who batted sensibly against pace and spin to complete their second successive half-centuries.
Sri Lanka’s left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas became the fourth bowler in One-Day Internationals to complete 400 wickets when he had Yuvraj Singh caught by Jayawardene at short mid-wicket for no score.
Retired Pakistani pace duo Wasim Akram (502) and Waqar Younis (416), and Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan (479) are also in the 400-club.
Kohli had been batting confidently before inside-edging a Thushara delivery on to his stumps. He hit seven fours in his 66-ball knock.
