Sri Lanka win tri-series as India choke again in final

Colombo, August 5: Sanath Jayasuriya hit a masterful 99 to set up Sri Lanka's 121-run victory over India in the day-night final of the triangular one-day cricket series here on Sunday.

The Sri Lanka captain struck 11 fours in his 102-ball knock as his team posted 295-5, which forced Indian batsmen to take risks early in the innings.

India, hoping for the first win in eight finals since April 1999, yet again failed to cross the last hurdle when they were shot out for 174.

None of the Indians could match the brilliant efforts from man-of-the-series Jayasuriya and man-of-the-match Russel Arnold.

Jayasuriya led the way with his aggressive batting, while Arnold hammered a 45-ball 52, and then accounted for a run out, took two catches and a wicket to shatter India's hopes.

The one-sided match revived memories of the last final between the two teams at Sharjah last year, when Jayasuriya smashed a career-best 189 in Sri Lanka's 299-5.

India, who were then shot out for their lowest total (54) in one-dayers, this time avoided that humiliation, but not the defeat by a big margin.

Jayasuriya missed his hundred this time, but his team again had enough runs on the board to put pressure on India.

Virender Sehwag, who scored a 69-ball century against New Zealand on Thursday, failed to beat an Arnold throw from point to the non-striker's end while going for a risky single.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly cut Dilhara Fernando's next delivery and was caught at point by Arnold to leave his team reeling at 5-2.

Rahul Dravid played one shot too many and was bowled off an inside-edge to give Fernando his second wicket, India tottering at 61-3.

Venkatsai Laxman, dropped on 28 by Chaminda Vaas at mid-off off Kumar Dharmasena, failed to capitalise on the chance and added nine more runs before being caught by Mahela Jayawardene at mid-wicket.

Indian batsmen lower down faced a tall order after their team had been reduced to 100-6.

In contrast, the Sri Lankan batting was consistent right through.

Jayasuriya put on 71 with fellow-opener Avishka Gunawardene (34) and 104 for the third wicket with Jayawardene (57) to remind India that all was not well with their bowling.

Arnold and Romesh Kaluwitharana (31 not out off 32 balls) continued the good work as Sri Lanka plundered 48 runs from their last five overs.

A six-man Indian attack looked too ordinary to contain runs on an easy-paced wicket after Sri Lanka had won the toss and elected to bat.

Ganguly, once warned for running on to the danger area on his follow-through, and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh (2-29) bowled impressively, but their efforts were not good enough to restore balance.

Jayasuriya, who suffered cramps in the 27th over when on 84, needed a runner (Marvan Atapattu) for nearly eight overs before giving a simple catch to Ganguly at mid-wicket.

He gave one chance on 71 when he lofted left-arm spinner Yuvraj Singh, but Zaheer Khan misjudged the skyer at long-on.

Jayasuriya and Gunawardene put Sri Lanka on course for a big total with their solid batting in the opening overs, much to the delight of a capacity crowd on a hot and humid day.

Gunawardene, who looked in fine touch, overshadowed his captain with a flurry of boundaries, contributing 30 in his team's first fifty off 46 balls.

The openers severely punished left-arm fast bowlers Zaheer and Ashish Nehra, who often erred in line and length.

A worried Ganguly soon removed Zaheer from the firing line after the bowler had conceded 30 in his opening four-over spell.

Harbhajan struck in his second over, trapping Gunawardene leg-before, but the fireworks did not stop as Jayasuriya received valuable support from Jayawardene.