Tendulkar cracks ton, Harbhajan spins out Sri Lanka

COLOMBO - Sachin Tendulkar cracked his 44th century while Harbhajan Singh provided the turnaround with the ball as India defeated Sri Lanka by 46 runs in the Compaq Cup One-Day International tri-series final at the R. Premadasa stadium here Monday.

India piled on 319, after winning the toss, with Tendulkar (138) batting as the mainstay and bringing up partnerships with Rahul Dravid (39), Yuvraj Singh (56 not out) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (56).

The spirited Sri Lankan chase ended at 273 in the 46.4 overs with Harbhajan claiming five for 56.

The visitors got an attacking start through Tillakaratne Dilshan (42) and Sanath Jayasuriya (36), before India came back through Harbhajan’s crucial strikes.

Thilina Kandamby (66) and Chamara Kapugedera (35) were out to make India bleed with a 70-run stand, pulling the home team back into the match from 182-6, thanks to some atrocious fielding by India.

They kept the home team fairly on target before Harbhajan once again came to the rescue to wrap up things. Suresh Raina broke the stand removing Kapugedera, and then Harbhajan took the wickets of Kandamby and Lasitha Malina off successive deliveries in the 45th over. He got the last man Ajantha Mendis out in his next over.

This was India’s third successive series victory in Sri Lanka, having beaten the island nation in two bilateral ODI series earlier.

India also maintained their overall winning streak, emerging triumphant in their last six ODI series.

Less than two days after their batting collapsed to go down to Sri Lanka in a league match here, Indian batsmen came up with an impressive show.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni was quick to opt for batting after winning the toss.

Dinesh Karthik, who opened the innings in the first two matches, was replaced with Virat Kohli and in the absence of a suitable partner for Tendulkar, veteran Rahul Dravid was promoted to the opening slot and he sure fitted the bill.

The two added 91 runs for the opening stand with Dravid (39), making a comeback to ODIs after two years, comfortably donning the role of a second foil. Tendulkar’s half century came in 47 balls and included six fours.

Jayasuriya gave the breakthrough for the hosts, when Dravid misread a slower delivery to hole out a catch to Dilshan. Dravid’s 56-ball innings included two fours and a six.

Dhoni, who came in next, kept up the run flow. Tendulkar’s ton came in 33rd over and included eight fours. But with the century came cramps and Dravid had to return to the field, this time as a runner for Tendulkar.

Tendulkar stitched a 110-run partnership with Dhoni, who after making a 62-ball 56 was being caught by Kandamby in the 37th over.

Tendulkar then joined forces with Yuvraj Singh (56 not out) before the Indian batting maestro was trapped lbw by Ajantha Mendis. His scintillating innings was studded with 10 fours and a six.

Sri Lanka started in a blazing fashion with Dilshan and Jayasuriya scoring 64 in 47 balls.

They clubbed the pacers all over the park and Dhoni was forced to bring Harbhajan within 10 overs.

The off-spinner responded to the call and struck twice. He first bowled Dilshan in the seventh over and then caught and bowled Mahela Jayawerdene in the next over.

Kumar Sangakkara scored 33, but was hit wicket in a bizarre fashion as his bat slipped away from his hand, flipped in the air over his shoulder and hit the stumps.

Thilan Thusara and Angello Mathews did not last long, but Kandamby and Kapugedera kept Sri Lanka in the reckoning.

Yusuf Pathan dropped a dolly when Kandamby was on 37. He got two more lives in two run out chances blown away by Yuvraj Singh and skipper Dhoni, who had a bad day in office and also missed an opprttunity to stump Sangakkara earlier.

India’s fumble in the field continued, till Harbhajan came and bailed them out.

Tendulkar, who knocked 211 runs in the tournament, was declared the man of the math and the man of the series.