Wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni [Images] and left-arm seamer Irfan Pathan [Images] starred in India's warm-up game before the tri-series in Sri Lanka [Images] as they beat Sri Lanka Cricket XI by 61 runs at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo on Monday.

India, winning the toss elected to bat first and put up a competitive score of 247.

The Indian team gave a hint of the scheme in days to come when VVS Laxman came out to open the innings with Virender Sehwag [Images]. Coach Greg Chappell, on his first international assignment with the team, believes that India needs a 'good start rather than an explosive one' to perform better in the one-dayers.

Yuvraj Singh [Images] was alo promoted up the order because the left-hander is known to struggle against spin bowling at the start of the innings.

But with none of the top order batsmen firing on the day, it was left to Mohammed Kaif and Dhoni to take India to a respectable score.

Kaif (52) and Dhoni built a partnership of 56 runs for the fifth wicket to stem the collapse.

After Kaif was out, with the team score on 160, Dhoni stepped up the momentum.

He hit three sixes and five fours in an explosive 81-ball innings and in the company of Jai Prakash Yadav (17) and Irfan Pathan (12) took India to 247.

He remained unbeaten on 86.

Pradeep Jayaprakashdaran, with 3 for 35 in his ten overs, was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka. He struck with the wickets of Sehwag (15), Yuvraj Singh (24) and Kaif.

The Sri Lanka Cricket XI, in reply were all out for 186 runs.

Their captain and wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene scored 66 runs, but with no support at the other end the Lanka XI innings ended in 47 overs.

The Indian seam attack - led by Irfan Pathan - demolished the Sri Lanka XI top order, reducing them to 70 for 6.

Yadav claimed two wickets and conceded just 11 runs from his six overs.

Harbhajan Singh [Images] and Sehwag took a wicket each, but Pathan wrapped up the innings, claiming 4 for 42.

Scorecard

India
VVS Laxman b Jayaweera 19
V Sehwag lbw b Jayaprakashdaran 15
Yuvraj Singh c Jayawardene b Jayaprakashdaran 24
R Dravid c Jayantha b Maharoof 5
M Kaif c Jayawardene b Jayaprakashdaran 52
MS Dhoni not out 86
Jai P Yadav st Jayawardene b Lokuarachchi 17
IK Pathan run out 12
Harbhajan Singh run out 0

Extras (lb 4, nb 5, w 8) 17

Total (8 wickets, 50 overs) 247

Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Laxman), 2-47 (Sehwag), 3-52 (Dravid), 4-104 (Yuvraj Singh), 5-160 (Kaif), 6-187 (Yadav), 7-246 (Pathan), 8-247 (Harbhajan Singh).

Bowling: Maharoof 10-0-61-1, Jayaweera 8.4-1-45-1, Jayaprakashdaran 10-1-35-3, Weerakoon 10-1-33-0, Lokuarachchi 10-0-60-1, Jayantha 1.2-0-9-0.

Sri Lanka Cricket XI (target: 248 runs from 50 overs)
WU Tharanga c & b Pathan 39
WS Jayantha lbw b Nehra 1
S Kalavitigoda c Dhoni b Balaji 5
GI Daniel c Dhoni b Yadav 18
BMAJ Mendis c Kumble b Pathan 0
MK Gajanayake b Yadav 0
HAPW Jayawardene c Pathan b Sehwag 66
HE Vithana lbw b Harbhajan Singh 15
MF Maharoof c Yadav b Pathan 13
KS Lokuarachchi c Dhoni b Pathan 11
S Weerakoon not out 2

Extras (lb 4, nb 2, w 10) 16

Total (all out, 47 overs) 186

Fall of wickets: 1-5 (Jayantha), 2-27 (Kalavitigoda), 3-66 (Tharanga), 4-67 (Mendis), 5-69 (Daniel), 6-70 (Gajanayake), 7-127 (Vithana), 8-166 (Jayawardene), 9-169 (Maharoof), 10-186 (Lokuarachchi).

Bowling: Nehra 6-0-31-1, Balaji 8-2-41-1, Pathan 9-1-42-4, Yadav 6-1-11-2, Kumble 7-2-21-0, Harbhajan Singh 6-1-21-1, Sehwag 5-0-15-1