Dambulla, July 30:

Sanath Jayasuriya defied a shoulder injury to fashion Sri Lanka’s three-wicket victory over India in the opening match of a limited-overs tri-series. Injuring his right shoulder when diving to stop a shot during India’s innings, Jayasuriya came in to bat at No 6. Replying to India’s 205/9, Jayasuirya’s unbeaten 50-ball 43 steered Sri Lanka to 207/7 in 48.2 overs after the top order faltered. Sri Lanka got off to a jittery start, slipping to 60/3 as opener Kumar Sangakkara (14) was trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan, skipper Marvan Atapattu (29) was run out and Mahela Jayawardene (15) was bowled by Zaheer Khan. Tillekeratne Dilshan (17) added 44 runs for the fourth wicket with Russel Arnold (22). Harbhajan Singh struck back to dismiss them both in successive overs as India bounced back into contention with Sri Lanka on 112/5.

Dilhara Lokuhettige’s 21 contained a straight six and three boundaries. Man of the match Jayasuriya struck six fours and added 37 runs for the unbroken eighth-wicket partnership with Fervez Mehroof (23 not out).

Rahul Dravid’s 54 and his 58-run partnership with rookie Venugopala Rao (38) saved India some face after a disastrous start that saw its top batting order crumble to 64/5. Opener Virender Sehwag (14) struck three fours in the second over before Mehroof struck on the 13th ball of the match. Mehroof (2-31) bowled Sehwag before Lokuhettige bowled Mahendra Dhoni (2) in the next over. Muralitharan came into the frame by trapping rookie Suresh Raina lbw for a first-ball duck. Dravid struck five boundaries off 96 balls before becoming the sixth man out. Muralitharan dismissed Pathan (21) and Rao (23) off successive deliveries in the 44th over to finish with 3-33. Only some big hitting from tailenders Harbhajan Singh (20 not out) and Khan (20) managed to take India past 200.