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Tharanga, Jayawardene hits tons to power SL to big win over India

Last updated on: July 03, 2013 08:57 IST

Openers Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene hit centuries to power Sri Lanka to a crushing 161-run victory against India in the third match of the tri-nation series in Jamaica, on Tuesday.

Upul Tharanga smashed a career-best unbeaten 174 , while Mahela Jayawardene made 107 as Sri Lanka produced a dominant batting display to post an imposing 348 for one in their 50 overs.

In reply, India's batsmen struggled under the pressure of the huge run chase and were bundled out for a lowly 187 in 44.5 overs to gift Sri Lanka a bonus point.

- Scorecard

Ravindra Jadeja top scored for India with an unbeaten innings of 49 from 62 balls but none of the other batsmen managed to cross the 40-run mark as their batsmen struggled against the disciplined Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath took three wickets, while Sachithra Senanayake claimed two for 46.

Lasith MalingaIndia struggled to get going right from the start. Opener Rohit Sharma made five from 16 balls before he was caught at short midwicket off Angelo Mathews, while Dhawan perished at deep midwicket off Herath for 24.

Captain Virat Kohli failed to make much impact with the bat as he holed out to Lasith Malinga at fine leg region to give Mathews his second wicket after scoring two.

Murali Vijay, who made 30 from 46 balls, before he was bowled by Malinga and Dinesh Karthik fell for 22 when he was caught behind off Herath for 22.

Suresh Raina made a quick 33 from as many balls before he was run out, while the lower order also offered no resistance as India lost their second successive match in the tournament.

Earlier, left-hander Tharanga scored his runs off just 159 deliveries with the help of 19 boundaries and three hits over the fence.

Jayawardene, on the other hand, faced 112 balls during his century knock. He hit nine fours and two sixes during his innings.

Towards the end, captain Angelo Mathews played a 29-ball 49-run cameo to help help Sri Lanka get near the 350-run mark. He struck fours boundaries and one six in the process.

Sent into bat, Sri Lanka made a quiet start to their innings before Jayawadene and Tharanga opened up.

Jayawardene and Tharanga mixed caution with aggression to pile up 47 runs in the first 10 overs.

Shami Ahmed, who replaced Bhuveneshwar Kumar, and Umesh Yavad failed to derive any assistance from the low and slow Sabina Park wicket as the Sri Lankan opening duo milked the Indian attack to surge ahead.

Jayawardene, who was dropped by Murali Vijay off Ravindra Jadeja at the personal score of 25, cashed in on the chance and played sensibly thereafter to reach his fifty from 60 balls with the help of four boundaries and one six.

Tharanga, on the other hand, played second fiddle initially and reached his fifty in 76 balls balls during which he struck five hits to the fence.

Nothing seemed to have worked in favour of India captain Virat Kohli, who is leading the side in place of injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as his bowling changes came a cropper against the Sri Lanka's powerful batting display.

Kohli, who will captain India in the remainder of the tournament after Dhoni has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury, found the going tough as none of his bowlers managed to produce result till the 39th over of the innings.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin finally managed to break the deadlock when he dismissed the dangerous-looking Jayawardene but not before the batsman had scored 107 off 112 balls with the help of nine boundaries and two sixes.

Jayawardene was caught by a diving Yadav at short thirdman after the batsman attempted the reverse sweep.

Tharanga, however, went about his business in a quiet fashion and notched up his century in 124 balls during which he hit 11 boundaries.

After Jayawardene's dismissal, Tharanga took the lead and in skipper Mathews' company he blossomed to take Sri Lanka forward.

The duo of Tharanga and Mathews pressed on the gas and registered their 50-run stand in just 27 balls.

Jadeja, who was the bowler of the tournament in the ICC Champions Trophy, came in for some harsh treatment as Tharanga and Mathews hit the left-arm spinner for a six each to pile up 15 runs in the 44th over.

Tharanga and Mathews took the ordinary-looking Indian attack for a task and struck boundaries and sixes at will to pile a whopping 124 runs off the last 10 overs.