Sri Lanka clinched a tense 18-run victory against India to win the triangular series final on Tuesday night. The hosts successfully defended their 282-run target despite a whirlwind 22-ball 48 from Virender Sehwag and a fine 69 from 99 balls from Rahul Dravid.
India, apparently cruising home on 186-2, crumbled in the last 15 overs in the face of tight spin bowling and lively fielding and were restricted to 263 for nine.
In the afternoon, Sri Lanka opener Sanath Jayasuriya became the fourth batsman to score 10,000 one-day runs as he smashed 67 off 77 balls to lay the platform for his side's 281 for nine.
He follows in the footsteps of Sachin Tendulkar (13,642), Inzamam-ul-Haq (10,933) and Saurav Ganguly (10,020).
But it was man of the match Mahela Jayawardene who glued the innings together with a composed 83 from 97 balls.
India started their run-chase with a breathtaking assault from Sehwag, who clubbed nine boundaries and a six. He smashed Dilhara Lokuhettige for 26 in an over and the opening pair added 62 in just 35 balls. Chaminda Vaas, playing his first game of the tournament after a hamstring injury, eventually bowled Sehwag but India maintained a steady momentum into the final overs.
West Indies were the other side in the tournament.
SCOREBOARD
SRI LANKA:
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M. Atapattu b Nehra 11
S. Jayasuriya run out 67
D. Lokuhettige lbw b Nehra 9
K. Sangakkara c Sehwag b Nehra 8
M. Jayawardene c Kaif b Nehra 83
R. Arnold run out 64
T. Dilshan b Nehra 7
C. Vaas not out 18
U. Chandana c Harbhajan b Nehra 2
M. Muralitharan run out 0
EXTRAS: (Lb-2, NB-2, W-8) 12
TOTAL: (for nine wickets) 281
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-32, 2-46, 3-67, 4-122, 5-247, 6-257, 7-262, 8-268, 9-281.
BOWLING: Pathan 9-0-59-0, Zaheer 9-1-43-0, Nehra 10-1-59-6, Harbhajan 10-0-40-0, Kumble 10-0-64-0, Sehwag 2-0-14-0.
OVERS: 50
INDIA:
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S C Ganguly lbw b T M Dilshan 26
V Sehwag b W P U J C Vaas 48
R Dravid run out 69
Yuvraj Singh c Dilhara b U Chandana 42
M Kaif c Atapattu b C Vaas 31
M S Dhoni lbw b U Chandana 7
I K Pathan b M Muralitharan 1
Harbhajan Singh run out 0
Z Khan c sub b M Muralitharan 5
A Kumble not out 9
A Nehra not out 9
EXTRAS: (W-8, B-7, LB-1) 16
TOTAL: (for nine wickets) 263
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FALL OF WICKETS: 1-62,2-102, 3-186, 4-205, 5-216, 6-219, 7-223, 8-229, 9-246.
BOWLING: C Vass 10-1-38-2, F Mahroof 6-0-48-0, D Dilhara 5-0-41-0, T Dilshan 7-0-42-1, M Muralitharan 10-0-35-3, S T Jayasuriya 0.1-0-1-0, U D U Chandana 9.5-0-38-2, R P Arnold 2-0-12-0.
TOSS: Sri Lanka
UMPIRES: Simon Taufel (AUS) and Asoka de Silva (SRI)
TV UMPIRE: T. H. Wijewardene (SRI)
MATCH REFEREE: Mike Procter (RSA).
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