India continued their dominance over Sri Lanka in One-Day cricket in recent times as they secured a thrilling 15 run win to take a 2-0 lead in the 5-match series at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Chasing a target of 257, the Sri Lankan fought back admirably, thanks to a valiant unbeaten 93 by 28-year-old Thilina Kandamby, but the failure of the top order batsmen proved to be costly again. Although Sri Lanka’s ODI form had been patchy in recent times with their official ranking slipping to number seven, they rejuvenated hope in the Sri Lankan spectators with a superb effort that nearly won them the game.

After being reduced to 36 for three chasing 257 runs, the hosts fought back through two crucial partnerships with Kandamby adding exactly 100 runs in 161 balls with captain Mahela Jayawardene, who returned to form by scoring his first ODI fifty in 14 games. Kandamby then added 51 runs in 48 balls with Chamara Kapugedara, who made 31 in 29 balls turning the game somewhat in Sri Lanka’s favour.

The Sri Lankans had been outplayed during most part of the game yesterday, but what brought them back into the game was the Batting Power Play, which they opted to take in the 42nd over with the total on 174, still needing 87 runs to win in 54 balls. The spectators were kept on the edge of their seats as 48 runs came in that five-over period with Sri Lanka edging close to the target despite India attacking with their two best bowlers Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan. But once the fielding restrictions ended, the Indians tightened the grip and there were no easy runs available as the Sri Lankan tail failed to wag with the last five batsmen contributing with scores of 7,7,3,1,0.

Kandamby was left stranded on 93 that came off 129 balls with nine boundaries, but he had done enough to warrant a place in the side for at least the rest of the series. Playing only his 9th ODI, the left-hander showed a plenty of character and provided the much needed stability to the Sri Lankan middle-order coming up with his career best knock.

Sri Lanka could have still made it when they needed 25 runs off 18 balls with three wickets in hand, but the 48th over bowled by Sharma, who was named Man of the Match, proved vital as he conceded just a single run. The tall fast bowler finished with figures of four for 57.

After the top three batsmen departed cheaply, Jayawardene realized the need for a calm head in the middle and rotated the strike and hit only one boundary until his 42nd run. Then he broke the shackles by being calm down and whacking Suresh Raina over mid wicket for a six and reached his 49th fifty in the same over. Earlier, the Sri Lankans fought back to seize the initiate and keep the Indian total below 260 after the tourists had got off to a blazing start.

They were all set at 206 for five in the 40th over, but tight bowling backed up by some smart fielding helped the Sri Lankans to pull back things as they conceded just 50 runs off the last 60 balls. Although the Indians opted for the second Power Play in the 40th over, that happened to be an anticlimax as India managed just 14 runs in the five over slot.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, who had come into the game requiring two wickets to break Wasim Akram’s World Record failed to pick up a wicket, but his ten overs cost just 32 runs. After India won the toss and elected to bat first Virender Sehwag put them on top racing to 42 in 26 balls. He looked all set for a big knock before being run out by a terrific relay throw that involved veterans Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya.

V. Sehwag run out (M’tharan, J’suriya, Mirando) 42

S. Tendulkar lbw b Kulasekara 06

G. Gambhir ct Sangakkara b Maharoof 27

Y. Singh lbw b Kulasekara 66

S. Raina ct Kapugedara b Dilshan 29

M.S. Dhoni ct Sangakkara b Maharoof 23

Y. Pathan run out (Kulasekara, Sangakkara) 21

Z. Khan ct Dilshan b Mendis 17

P. Kumar ct Jayawardene b Mendis 15

P. Ojah not out 00

Extras: (lb 1, w 8, nb 1) 10

Overs: 50

Fall of wickets: 1-13, 2-62, 3-83, 4-168, 6-180, 7-223, 8-256,9-256.

Did not bat: I. Sharma.

Bowling: Kulasekara 9-0-61-2 (2w) (1nb), Mirando 8-0-59-0 (1w), Farveez 10-0-40-2 (3w), Mendis 10-0-44-2 (2w), Muralitharan 10-1-32-0, Dilshan 3-0-19-1.

T. Dilshan c Sharma b Khan 8

S. Jayasuriya c Ojha b Sharma 17

K. Sangakkara c Tendulkar b Kumar 4

M. Jayawardene c Pathan b Ojha 52

T. Kandamby not out 93

C. Kapugedera c Dhoni b Sharma 31

F. Maharoof b Sharma 7

T. Thushara c Pathan b Sharma 7

M. Muralitharan run out 3

N. Kulasekera run out 1

A. Mendis run out 0

Extras: (4b, 4lb, 10w) 18

Overs: 49.2

Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-33, 3-36, 4-136, 5-187, 6-206, 7-228, 8-236, 9-237.

Bowling: Khan 10-0-56-1 (3w), Kumar 8.2-1-22-1 (3w), Sharma 10-1-57-4 (4w), Ojha 7-0-39-1, Pathan 5-0-21-0, Sehwag 5-0-19-0, Raina 4-0-19-0.

Toss: India

Umpires: B. Jerling (RSA) and G. Silva, (SL),

Third Umpire: K. Dharmasena (SL),