Only twice did they look like not being in the driver’s seat. First when they frittered away a solid middle-over partnership by losing seven wickets for 34 to settle for 258, and then again when Sanath Jayasuriya went about scoring 60 off 52 balls to give the hosts a snappy start.

But Munaf Patel’s disciplined bowling gave him two early wickets to even Jayasuriya’s presence out. And when Harbhajan, in the 18th over, got the ball to spin viciously across Jayasuriya’s angled bat, and Suresh Raina completed a good diving catch at slip, it was the beginning of the end.

Mahela Jayawardene scored a watchful 16 from 40 deliveries, but was run out after a slight misunderstanding with Chamara Kapugedera to snuff out any hopes of a fightback. And though Thilan Thushara managed to delay the inevitable with a fiery 40 off 29 balls, India were never really threatened.

Earlier, opting to bat, it was Virat Kohli’s adventurous attitude that gave India an impetus. The makeshift opener toyed with Chaminda Vaas, mixing up disdainful flicks with gorgeous drives. He completed his first ODI half-century off 62 balls before falling to Thushara.

Dhoni played another captain’s knock — a superbly paced 71 off 80 balls —showing great resilience in his 125-minute stay. Raina carried on from where he’d left in his last innings and made a well-composed 78-ball 76, laced with six fours and a six. The duo added 143 runs for the fifth wicket.

Raina was especially severe on Muralitharan, slogging him over mid-wicket before stepping out to play inside-out for a boundary that got him his half-century off 56 balls. Dhoni, struggling with his back and mild cramps, had to employ a runner but managed to do more than just holding his end up.

... contd.