CUTTACK, India, (Reuters) – Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 96 to set up India’s seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international yesterday. India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.
Opener Tendulkar shared in three half-century partnerships to help India chase down their target of 240 in the day-night match in the eastern Indian city of Cuttack.
India left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a career-best four for 32 to restrict the tourists to 239 all out after they had opted to bat first.
Openers Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratane Dilshan (41) gave Sri Lanka a spectacular start before the Indian spinners, led by Jadeja, took charge.
“With the kind of start they got, I was praying they wouldn’t get 350 or 400 on the board,” India’s stand-in captain Virender Sehwag said. “The credit for this victory ought to go to the bowlers, especially Harbhajan (Singh) and Jadeja.”
Jadeja finished his spell of 10 consecutive overs with the wickets of Nuwan Kulasekasra (10) and Ajantha Mendis (6).
Tendulkar put on 55 for the opening wicket with Sehwag (44) and 72 for the next with Gautam Gambhir (32) to help India make a confident start in their reply.
Tendulkar, who missed compiling a record 46th ODI hundred, shared in an undefeated 73-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (36 not out) to guide the team to victory. The explosive Sehwag, leading the team in the place of the suspended Mahendra Singh Dhoni, smashed nine fours before being caught off paceman Chanaka Welegedara.
Left-hander Gambhir was caught and bowled by off-spinner Suraj Randiv and Yuvraj Singh (23) fell to Welegedara before Tendulkar and Karthik took the team to victory.
“I was in good form and I utilised the first 10 overs very well and Tendulkar played right through the innings and ensured we won. Overall, this was an excellent team performance,” Sehwag said.
Earlier, Tharanga put on 65 with Dilshan, whose first eight scoring shots were boundaries, and 100 for the second with captain Kumar Sangakkara (46). But their last nine wickets fell for the addition of just 74 runs and the visitors were dismissed with 5.4 overs to spare.
