India won the battle in the finals of the tri-nation Compaq Cup in Premadasa Stadium here. After winning the toss, India opted to bat first and scored 319/5 from 50 overs. The hosts had a huge target to chase. Sri Lanka lost the opening batting power in the beginning with wickets falling to Harbhajan Singh and when Kandamby tried to steal the show from India, Harbhajan was back to take his wicket. Finally the host lost to India after a good struggle that lasted till their 46.4 overs. They scored 273 and India won the Compaq Cup by 46 runs.

From India’s side, Sachin Tendulkar top scored with 138 runs followed by Yuvraj Singh (56 not out) and MS Dhoni (56). Thushara slammed 2 wickets from India’s side but it was Harbhajan Singh who smashed the Lankan team with his excellent bowling and obtained 5 wickets.

Man of the Match as well as Man of the Series was awarded to Sachin Tendulkar.

Scoreboard:

India innings (50 overs maximum)

R Dravid c Dilshan b Jayasuriya 39(56)

SR Tendulkar lbw b Mendis 138(133)

MS Dhoni c Kandamby b Malinga 56(62)

Yuvraj Singh not out 56(41)

YK Pathan c Kapugedera b Thushara 0(1)

SK Raina c Kulasekara b Thushara 8(6)

V Kohli not out 2(2)

Extras (b 1, w 18, nb 1) 20

Total (5 wickets; 50 overs) 319

Fall of wickets:1-95 (Dravid, 17.2 ov), 2-205 (Dhoni, 36.3 ov), 3-276 (Tendulkar, 45.6 ov), 4-277 (Pathan, 46.4 ov), 5-302 (Raina, 48.3 ov)

Bowling:Kulasekara:8-0-38-0-4.75, Thushara:10-0-71-2-7.10, Malinga:10-0-81-1-8.10, Mendis:10-0-70-1-7.00, Jayasuriya:9-0-43-1-4.77, Mathews:3-0-15-0-5.00

Sri Lanka innings (target: 320 runs from 50 overs)

T Dilshan b Harbhajan Singh 42(29)

S Jayasuriya c Nehra b Pathan 36(29)

M Jayawardene c & b Harbhajan Singh 1(5)

K Sangakkara hit wicket b Singh 33(37)

T Thushara b Sharma 15(14)

A Mathews c Raina b Yuvraj Singh 14(11)

T Kandamby b Harbhajan Singh 66(94)

C Kapugedera c Dhoni b Raina 35(42)

N Kulasekara not out 9(9)

L Malinga c & b Harbhajan Singh 0(1)

A Mendis st Dhoni b Harbhajan Singh   7(10)

Extras (lb 3, w 11, nb 1) 15

Total (10 wickets; 46.4 overs) 273 (5.85 runs per over)

Fall of wickets:1-64 (Dilshan, 7.5 ov), 2-76 (Jayawardene, 9.4 ov), 3-85 (Jayasuriya, 10.6 ov), 4-108 (Thushara, 14.3 ov), 5-131 (Mathews, 17.3 ov), 6-182 (Sangakkara, 27.3 ov), 7-252 (Kapugedera, 42.3 ov), 8-264 (Kandamby, 44.3 ov), 9-264 (Malinga, 44.4 ov), 10-273 (Mendis, 46.4 ov)

Bowling: Nehra:7-0-43-0-6.14, I Sharma:7-0-51-1-7.28, RP Singh:5-0-34-1-6.80, Harbhajan Singh:9.4-0-56-5-5.79, Y Pathan:4-0-36-1-9.00, Yuvraj Singh:6-0-24-1-4.00, S Raina:8-0-26-1-3.25

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After their 139 run defeat, Indian Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said that toss will play a crucial role in Monday’s final of the tri-nation Compaq cup against the host Sri Lanka. Dhoni said that it was just an off-day for the team and whoever comes out lucky with toss on Moday will have an edge in clinching the cup. Dhoni also said that Indian team needs to work on in bowling area.

India had an optional practice session on Sunday after their two back to back games and most of the players preferred rest. Dhoni also rued the absence of his regular opening pair of Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, who missed the tournament due to injury and said the batting department was badly missing the duo’s services. He however refused to give information about the playing eleven for the Monday’s final.

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Compaq Cup is getting ahead to a tough side with India and Sri Lanka facing each other after India knocked out New Zealand from the ongoing Sri Lanka tri-series. Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and chose to bat first in this third ODI at Premadasa Stadium. There is a slightest change in the Sri Lanka team with Thilan Samaraweera out due to injury and being replaced by Chamara Kapugedera. India will be going without any change in the team.

Winning this Compaq cup will take India to the first place in the ODI rankings. The real test for India is on Monday when they face Sri Lanka in finals.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Karthik, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ashish Nehra, Ishant Sharma.

Sri Lanka: Kumar Sangakkara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedera, Thilina Kandamby, Angelo Mathews, Nuwan Kulasekara, Thilan Thushara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.

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