India beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets, take 2-1 lead in ODI series

Sachin Tendulkar cracked a fluent unbeaten 96 runs as India spanked a hapless Sri Lanka by seven wickets in a low-scoring third one-day international match to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series in Cuttack, reports Nilankur Das.

Finally, the bowlers had their place in the sun. After being clobbered around the park in the two T20 matches and the first two one-dayers in Rajkot and Nagpur, the Barabati Stadium pitch provided a bit of encouragement for the spinners, at least in the first half.

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In the second, with dew making it difficult for the spinners to grip the ball, the turn was neutralised. Sri Lanka skipper's decision to bat first completely backfired as India go to Eden with a 2-1 lead, a win away from wrapping the series.

Saurashtra all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who had made his debut against the Sri Lankans in Colombo early this year, emerged hero, returning career-best figures.

The 21-year-old had invited the wrath of the nation after he was involved in a hopeless run out that handed Australia the match after a Sachin Tendulkar masterpiece in an improbable chase not long ago. His inconsequential half-century in a lost cause in Guwahati was overlooked.

Jadeja's four-wicket haul against the rampaging Sri Lanka batsmen on Monday will do him good. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start hitting Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who replaced Praveen Kumar, to all corners.

Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga were helped by bounce and the hardness of the new ball and kept hitting through the line.

Ishant’s first three overs cost 46 and Zaheer operated at an ‘economy’ rate of 13 in his opening spell. The signs were ominous till Dilshan walked down the pitch and tried to pull Ashish Nehra.

The resultant top edge went straight up in the air and Dinesh Karthik pouched the offering. Soon after, the Sri Lankan innings disintegrated.

Had it not been for Tharanga's composed 73, India might have run away with the game in the first half itself.

The wrecker-in-chief, Jadeja, got sharp turn from the wicket. Occasionally, the ball stopped and came and the Sri Lankan batsmen failed to adjust to the slowness of the wicket.

Batsmen were early into their shots and as many as three inside edges on to the stumps showed that scoring freely would not be easy once the ball lost its initial hardness.

Jadeja bowled his 10 on the trot and Ishant was even on a hattrick at one point. He did not get it, but picking up two wickets in two balls emphasised the domination bowlers enjoyed towards the end of the first-session.

Having to chase way below a run-a-ball, India were in no hurry after stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag got them the start they wanted.

Yuvraj Singh was back after an injury lay-off but seemed to be consciously trying to protect his left hand, suggesting that his finger hasn't healed completely.

The lack of experience in the middle-order due to the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni meant one of the seniors had to stay on to ensure a successful chase.

Sachin Tendulkar (96 not out) did that perfectly with a superb balance of caution and strokemaking.