Sourav Ganguly returned to the Indian team -and form - in fine fashion as he scored his 10,000th run in one-day internationals to become the third batsman ever, after Sachin Tendulkar and Pakistani Inzamam-ul-Haq, to reach the milestone.
The 33-year-old, who achieved the feat with a single to cover off Dilhara Fernando, was returning to international cricket after serving a four-match ban and on the back of a string of poor scores.
The left-hander, who was eventually out for 51 (110 balls, 5x4s), opened the innings at his favourite opening position with Virender Sehwag after captain Rahul Dravid won the toss and opted to bat in this crucial triangular series match.
Besides, it was a welcome return to form for Ganguly. His sequence of scores leading to Wednesday's match read: 0, 9, 4 and 18. In fact, his 51 at Dambulla was his first half-century since notching up 55 against Bangladesh in December last year.
Ganguly could have reached the 10,000-run mark earlier in the tournament had he not missed the first two matches because of the ban.
Ganguly, who also bowls right-arm gentle medium pace, now awaits a fine 'double' of 100 wickets. He had captured 93 scalps and if he takes seven more in this tournament, it will be an enviable all-round achievement by any standard.
Tendulkar has the world's best aggregate in one-dayers with 13,642 runs, followed by Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq, who has a tally of 10,933.
The Bengal left-hander has now played 271 one-day internationals, scoring 10,018 runs. He has also cracked 22 one-day centuries and 60 half-centuries and held 94 catches (before Sri Lankan innings on Wednesday).
{{/usCountry}}The Bengal left-hander has now played 271 one-day internationals, scoring 10,018 runs. He has also cracked 22 one-day centuries and 60 half-centuries and held 94 catches (before Sri Lankan innings on Wednesday).
{{/usCountry}}Ganguly has been most prolific against Pakistan, scoring 1,563 runs at 36.53, studded with 12 centuries.