Sachin Tendulkar walks back to the pavilion after he was dismissed for 49. (AP)

Oval, June 30: India pulled themselves out of a self-created problem and coasted to a comfortable four-wicket victory against Sri Lanka to record their second successive win in the triangular one-day series at The Oval on Sunday.

Sri Lanka scored a modest 202 for eight in their alotted 50 overs after electing to bat but what ought to have been a fairly simple run-chase was made to look difficult as only Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Mongia made substantial contributions among the top five batsmen.

When Tendulkar was out one run short of his half-century, the top-score of the innings, India looked in slight trouble at 135 for five with all the experienced batsmen back in pavilion.

But a run-a-ball sixth wicket stand of 60 between Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif guided India out of another pressure situation and brought the team within sniffing distance of victory.

Yuvraj Singh, man of the match in India's six wicket win against England at Lord's yesterday, came up with another sensible batting performance before being out for 31 with India eight runs short of victory.

Kaif, who did not get a chance to bat yesterday, remained unbeaten on 38 and Ajit Agarkar made seven not out as India reached 203 for six in the 46th over.

Agarkar, lated declared man of the match, had earlier been instrumental in restricting Sri Lanka to a modest total. Agarkar and Zaheer Khan claimed three wickets each as Sri Lanka wasted a flying start by Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana.

Agarkar struck with his first ball of the innings, having Kaluwitharana caught behind by Rahul Dravid, and the slide started for Sri Lanka who kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Only Mahela Jayawardene, who made a gutsy 62, offered some resistance to the Indian bowlers but found little support from the other end.

The target appeared easy for the Indians considering they had successfully chased 272 runs yesterday. But they faltered at the very start, losing both openers with only 26 runs on board.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly was trapped leg before wicket by Chaminda Vaas for seven and Virender Sehwag, who had scored a fine 71 yesterday, gifted his wicket to the Sri Lankans when he went for an unnecessary big shot in the fourth over of Vaas only to give a simple catch to Jayasuriya at mid-off.

Tendulkar and Mongia put on 71 for the third wicket to rebuild the innings but two quick wickets again forced the Indians on the backfoot. Mongia's top edge off an attempted hook shot against Dilhara Fernando was caught by Vaas at third man fence while Dravid, who had produced a match-winning unbeaten 73 yesterday, played on to his stumps a Upul Chandana delivery after making just eight runs.

Tendulkar, whose 70-ball knock contained three fours and a six, carried on for some more time before egding a Nuwan Zoysa delivery to wicketkeeper Kaluwitharana.

Sri Lanka stepped up pressure, realising one more wicket would expose the tailenders, but Yuvraj Singh and Kaif showed fine cricketing acumen and never succumbed to the pressure tactics.

With the asking rate still in the region of only four runs an over, both the batsmen avoided any risks and scored through singles and twos, running swiftly between the wickets.

With the victory remaining only a formality, Yuvraj Singh got out to a simple catch to substitute Chamara Silva at long off. Kaif and Agarkar then completed the formality without any further problems. (PTI)

I enjoyed bowling at the Oval: Agarkar