The Indian team have had a rather dramatic time over the three ODIs they have played in one week. They started off with a humiliating loss, eked out a hard-fought win to draw level and then posted a roller-coaster 33-run victory in a game that was as up-and-down as the last seven days.

Chasing 238, the packed-to-capacity R Premadasa Stadium was half-empty within the power plays of Sri Lanka’s stuttering chase. Wicket after wicket went down and at an embarrassing 59 for six, the hosts seemed to have lost sight of the victory target, but Mahela Jayawardene played a scorcher to spark interest the contest. Batting with a runner in the latter part of his innings, his 94 from 111 balls nearly translated artificial excitement into anxiety for the Indian team, before a soft paddle-shot straight into Praveen Kumar’s hands off Munaf Patel brought the smiles back.

Sri Lanka, eventually, folded up for 204 in 49 overs to hand India a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Cut to the chase

Zaheer Khan was instrumental in dismantling the Lankan top-order, as he got the ball to move both ways off the seam to dismiss both Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Silva leg-before.

Praveen Kumar and Munaf Patel provided excellent support, the former tempting Jayasuriya with an away-going delivery to earn a snick, before catching Kapugedera plumb in front. Though Munaf got a bit of stick towards the latter half, his three wickets were just reward for his nagging line and length.

... contd.