India’s ODI series win was the result of a superb performance by the team in every sphere of the game. Most importantly, the young captain Dhoni led the team well and made valuable contribution with his bat. In fact, in all the three games that India has won, Dhoni came to the crease when the team was struggling. Like the captain of a ship, he rescued the team from danger and took it closer to victory with his crucial knocks of 35, 76 and 71 in the last three matches. In the fourth ODI too, Dhoni came to the crease when India was struggling at 81 for 3 after 17.3 overs. The Indian captain again played sensible cricket and shared a valuable partnership of 143 runs with the in-form batsman Suresh Raina. When Dhoni departed, India was at a healthier position and was out of danger. Further, the lower order batsmen could not continue from where Dhoni and Raina had left off, but all the same India reached a competitive total of 258. As in the last match, in this match too, the Indian batsmen severely punished Muarli and Mendis and did not allow them to dominate.
While chasing, veteran Lankan opener Jayasuriya was in a punishing mood and tried to reach the Indian total as soon as possible. However, luck was in favour of India as off-spinner Harbhajan Singh got rid of him in the very third ball of his first over. Team India, which was losing its grip over the match owing to Jayasuriya’s smashing innings, was back in the game. The rest, as they say, is history and India recorded their first-ever ODI series win in Sri Lanka.
Earlier, the Indian captain Dhoni decided to bat first, after winning the toss. As in the previous matches, in this match too, openers Virat Kohli and Gautam Gambhir gave a good start. However, Gambhir once again failed to convert a good start and fell to N Kulasekara after scoring 17 runs in 21 balls. Out-of-form batsman Yuvraj Singh, who joined Kohli, was dismissed by the experienced Vass for a nought. By dismissing Yuvraj, the Lankan fast bowler had claimed 400 wickets in ODIs. Kohli (54, 66b, 7x4) who was looking in good touch also returned to the pavilion after completing his maiden ODI fifty. Indian captain Dhoni (71, 80b, 4x4) joined left-hander Raina (76, 78 b, 4x6, 6x1) and the two eventually rescued the team. With the help of lower order batsmen, India set a comprehensive target of 259 for the Lankans.
Later, it was left to the Indian bowlers to bowl out the Lankans. The Indian pacers, who have had a good series so far, put the Lankan team on the back foot by claiming two wickets early in the innings. Munaf Patel dismissed opener M Warnapura and the experienced K Sangakkara in quick succession and impressed with the new ball. For a short while, it seemed that Jayasuriya and the Lankan captain M Jayawardene would bring the team back into the game. However, Lankan hopes were shattered when both Jayasuriya (60, 52 b, 8x4, 6x2) and Jayawardene (16, 40 b) fell. The Lankans were four down for 106 runs in 24 overs and were bowled out in 46.3 overs after scoring 212 runs. No batsman, apart from T Thushara impressed with the bat. Thushara provided some entertainment to Lankan fans with his rapid innings of 40 in 29 balls, including two fours and two massive sixes.
Harbhajan Singh was the top Indian bowler. The off-spinner returned impressive figures of 3 for 40 in 10 overs. Munaf and Yuvraj claimed two wickets each, giving away 48 and 53 runs respectively. Zaheer claimed the last man Thushara, caught on the boundary line by Raina. With the fall of the last wicket, Team India began to celebrate. Dhoni and his boys left the field like brave warriors. Raina was adjudged Man of the Match for his fantastic innings and two catches, including a difficult one at slip to get rid of Jayasuriya.
Team India has re-written history at the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo. Now the team has to play one more game on Friday, which is just a formality. However, Team India will try to make it 4 – 1. A good performance indeed from the young brigade headed by Dhoni! We really appreciate Team India’s performance.
4.0 / 3 votes 
