COLOMBO, (Reuters) – Sachin Tendulkar hit a superb 138, his 44th one-day international hundred, to power India to a 46-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tri-series final yesterday.
Sri Lanka put up a tremendous fight to stay in the game before being dismissed for 273 in the 47th over.
India scored 319 for five after Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid (39) laid a solid platform with an opening stand of 95.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, promoting himself up the order, played second fiddle to Tendulkar in a second-wicket partnership of 110 off 115 balls.
Dhoni fell to Lasith Malinga for 56 but Yuvraj Singh continued the momentum, adding a further 71 with Tendulkar who was handicapped by a thigh strain and needed a runner.
He scored two successive boundaries by reverse-sweeping Ajantha Mendis but was trapped lbw attempting a third.
Sri Lanka snapped up the wickets of Yusuf Pathan for nought and Suresh Raina for eight before Yuvraj, in a final flourish, completed his 41st one-day fifty to give India a formidable total.
Sri Lanka were given a flying start by openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya with 64 off 47 balls but the introduction of Harbhajan Singh cut the run rate and changed in the pattern of the game.
The off-spinner bowled Dilshan for 42 and completed figures of five for 56 as Sri Lanka tried desperately to stay in the chase by switching their batting order.
Thilina Kandamby top-scored with 66.
