Lanka land parting shot

COLOMBO: The fifth One-dayer at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday was like a benefit match: beneficial for all who were willing to grab the opportunity. The Sri Lankans, who had been battered and bruised so far, came alive in the dead rubber and restored some pride, scripting a 68-run win and ensuring that the series ended 4-1 in India���s favour instead of 5-0. Their turn of fortune came at the toss and like good guests, the Indian allowed the hosts to dictate terms.
Opener T Dilshan (97; 117b, 9x4) and Kumar Sangakkara (84; 70b, 8x4, 1x6) laid the foundations for Lanka���s highest score at the venue and then their bowlers managed to finally upstage their famed batting opponents and bowl them out for 252 in the 49th over.
India were in the hunt initially when Yuvraj Singh (73; 62b, 11x4, 1x6) threatened to take the match away with a breathtaking batting display. But once he was dismissed trying to force the pace, the chase lost steam. Skipper Dhoni (53; 58b, 1x4, 2x6) and debutant Ravindra Jadeja (60 not out; 77b, 5x4) played their part but they were just delaying the inevitable.
The loss ended Dhoni & Co���s winning streak, which had begun with the 5-0 verdict against England. They will now have to be content with nine wins on the trot, which incidentally was a new mark by an Indian team.
Earlier, India fielded their weakest bowling attack in the series to test their bench strength and it showed. The collective experience of the specialist bowlers was 176 ODIs, nearly half of Muthiah Muralitharan���s tally of 328 ODIs. The inexperience was evident as the bowlers either dug in too short or were wayward with their line. Dhoni eventually had to turn to part-timers and ended up pressing nine bowlers into service. It was just the offer the Lankans were looking to pounce upon.
As usual Sanath Jayasuriya (37) kick-started the innings. His opening partner Dilshan, along with Sangakkara, ensured the Lankan domination never lost a foothold by stringing a 143-run alliance for the second wicket. Sangakkara was the more enterprising of the two with the paddle sweep and flicks proving to be the most productive strokes.
Dilshan was content to play the sheet anchor role but never lost an opportunity to cash in on the loose deliveries, which were in abundance. His area of profit was the off-side, where he netted 80 of his 97 runs.