SL prevent clean sweep
Colombo, February 8:
Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored with a solid 97 as Sri Lanka prevented an Indian clean sweep with an emphatic 68-run win in the fifth and final one-day international here today.
The hosts posted 320-8 following impressive knocks from opener Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara (84) and then dismissed the tourists for 252 to register their first victory after four successive defeats. The loss also ended India’s nine-match winning streak, beginning with a 5-0 series victory over England at home last year.
Only Yuvraj Singh posed a real threat with a fighting 62-ball 73 for the visitors. Debutant Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (53) also defied the attack.
Seamers Nuwan Kulasekara and Farveez Maharoof and spinners Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis took two wickets apiece. Sri Lanka’s top order earlier flourished with Dilshan, Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya (37) dominating the Indian attack. Wicketkeeper-batsman Sangakkara smashed one six and eight fours in his 70-ball 84, his third successive half-century.
Sri Lanka were strongly placed at 255-2 in the 42nd over before India struck back with four wickets for just one run, with paceman Ishant Sharma taking two in one over.