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Sri Lanka secure consolation win against India
Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara both struck half-centuries as Sri Lanka denied India a series sweep with a 68-run victory in the fifth and final one-day international in Colombo.
The defeat halted India’s run of nine straight wins in limited-overs internationals - a stretch that has lifted Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team to No.2 behind South Africa in the one-day world rankings.
Opener Dilshan blazed 97 off 117 balls while Sangakkara (84) scored his third successive half century of the series in Sri Lanka’s formidable total of 320-8 in 50 overs.
India lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked like threatening a strong Sri Lankan total before they were bowled out for 252 in 48.5 overs.
Yuvraj Singh gave the tourists a glimmer of hope with a typically brutal 73 off 62 balls that included11 boundaries and a six.
Debutante Ravindra Jadeja remained unbeaten on 60 off 77 balls as he and captain Dhoni (53) shared the highest partnership of the innings - 55 off 66 balls.
Sri Lanka spin king Muttiah Muralitharan steemed the flow of runs after Yuvraj’s onslaught at Sri Lankan seamer Farveez Maharoof before he took a skier to dismiss the left-hander in the 22nd over.
The off-spinner finished with 2-41 while unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis (2-44) also took two late wickets.
Sangakkara and Dilshan earlier combined in a 143-run stand off 136 deliveries after captain Mahela Jayawardene won his first toss of the series and elected to bat.
However, India fought back hard by taking four wickets in the space of six deliveries, including the run out of Dilshan in the 42nd over.
Rohit Sharma’s direct throw from point saw Dilshan short of his crease at the non-striker’s end, finishing a sparkling innings of 97 off 117 balls which featured nine fours.
Sri Lanka were cruising at 255-2 before sensationally losing four wickets for just one run.
Ishant Sharma (3-60) dismissed Thilina Kandamby, Chamara Kapugedera and Thilan Thushara while Jayawardene was brilliantly caught by diving Suresh Raina as Sri Lanka slumped to 256-6 in the 43rd over.
Maharoof (32) hit three boundaries and a six in his 23-ball knock as Sri Lanka took finished their innings and then the series with a flourish.
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Tags: Kumar Sangakkara, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ravindra Jadeja, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj singh
