India clinch One-Day series against Sri Lanka 3-1

(IANS)

India won a limited-overs cricket series in Sri Lanka for the first time by clinching the five-match rubber 3-1 as they beat hosts by 46 runs in the fourth match here at the Premadasa Stadium Wednesday.

India, who drew the first bilateral series 1-1 in 1985, lost the next two 1-2 ...

Man of the Match Suresh Raina struck a belligerent 76 (78 balls, 6 fours, one six) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni a busy 71 (80 balls, 4 fours) to take India to 258 with a match-winning 143-run, fourth-wicket stand after opener Virat Kohli struck a strokeful 54 (66 balls, 7 fours).

Medium-pacer Thilan Thushara claimed five wickets, his first in ODIs.

In reply, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 212 in 46.3 overs, opener Sanath Jayasuriya's blistering 60 (52 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes) and Thushara's quickfire 40 (29 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes) going in vain.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bagged three wickets for 40, Munaf Patel two for 48 and Yuvraj Singh two for 53.