Cricket

India vs Sri Lanka, 4th ODI: India win series 3-1

India beat Sri Lanka by 46 runs in the fourth ODI at Premdasa stadium in Colombo. With this win, India have taken an unassailable 3-1 lead in the Idea Cup and thus have won their first ever ODI bilateral series in the Emerald Island.

Scoreboard

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India made a cautious but solid start, as Gambhir and Kohli looked not to lose any early wickets. Although Gambhir left early and Yuvraj failed at number three, becoming Vaas’ 400th ODI victim, Kohli stayed on and registered his first ODI fifty.

Then Raina and Dhoni held up the fort for a 143 run partnership as both struck seventies before India lost their way in the final overs to be all out for 258. Thilan Thushara was the strike weapon as he took a career best 5 for 47.

The pitch began behaving wildly in the second innings but that is part of the game as for the first time in the series, Sri Lanka were at the receiving end. Harbhajan and Yuvraj, even Rohit Sharma got good turn. One after the other Sri Lankan batsmen departed. Their main hopes were on Jayasuriya, Sangakkara and Jayawardene. Only Jayasuriya looked the part as he struck a 52 ball 60, but as soon as he departed, the Indians were on top. Jayawardene was run out soon after Sangakkara left and all Lankan hopes departed with the duo.

The fifth and last ODI is on 29th August.

Tags: 4th odi, gautam gambhir, harbhajan singh, Idea Cup 2008, India, india win, jayasuriya, Jayawardene, MS Dhoni, ODI series, Premdasa Stadium, rohit sharma, Sangakkara, sri lanka, suresh raina, virat kohli, yuvraj singh