Angelo Mathews’ maiden six-wicket haul capped Sanath Jayasuriya’s resurgent 98 and a quickfire 91 from Thilina Kandamby to propel Sri Lanka to a crushing 139-run win against India in Saturday’s tri-series match.
Sri Lanka chose to bat after winning the toss and amassed 307-6, a difficult task in night-time batting conditions at R.Premadasa Stadium.
India in reply was bundled out for 168 with more than 12 overs to spare. The defeat is India’s worst against Sri Lanka.
Seam bowler Mathews had a dream match as he ran through India’s middle and low-order. He reached his first-ever five-wicket haul by dismissing Harbhajan Singh before finishing with 6-20.
Seamer Thilan Thushara broke an aggressive start by Indian openers Sachin Tendulkar and Dinesh Karthik forcing a catch off Karthik (16) to Kumar Sangakkara with the total on 32.
Tendulkar was out for 27 miscuing a drive to Ajantha Mendis at mid-on off seamer Nuwan Kulasekera.
Yuvraj Singh (16) who was beaten several times outside the off stump finally fell into the trap edging a ball to Sangakkara off seamer Lasith Malinga.
Mathews entered the fray removing Suresh Raina for a first-ball duck and then bowled top-scorer Dravid with an off-cutter for 47 runs. Dravid faced 56 balls and hit three boundaries and a six.
Dravid’s dismissal sparked a sensational collapse as the Indians lost their last six wickets for 42 runs.
Earlier Jayasuriya ended his dry run in limited overs cricket falling two runs short of his and 29th limited-overs century while Kandamby scored a quickfire 91 runs to carry Sri Lanka to a formidable score.
Under pressure, after a run of eight innings without a limited-overs half-century, Jayasuriya tore India’s bowling apart hitting 13 boundaries.
Kandamby and Chamara Kapugedera combined in a vital 83-run partnership to lift Sri Lanka from a vulnerable 176-5.
Kandamby reached his third ODI half-century and finished with an unbeaten 91, including 11 boundaries.
Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was the pick of Indian bowlers, returning 1-37 in his 10 overs.
The win will give Sri Lanka crucial momentum ahead of the final against India on Monday.
Sri Lanka rested Thilan Samaraweera as a precaution against a minor hamstring injury, calling up Kapugedera to replace him.
