Veteran Sanath Jayasuriya returned to form with a swashbuckling 98 while fellow left-hander Thilina Kandamby smashed a terrific 91 as Sri Lanka beat India by 139 runs in the final group game of the tri-nation Compaq Series at the R. Premadasa Stadium, yesterday.

While the two left-handers stole the limelight during the Sri Lankan innings where the hosts amassed a massive 307 for six in 50 overs, it was Angelo Mathews, who ripped through the Indian batting line up claiming career best figures of six for 20.

Teams batting second at this venue have struggled in recent times and true to form, India were bundled out for 168 all out with 12 overs to spare as Sri Lanka went through to Monday’s final with momentum on their side having won both their group games.

The Indians were all at sea against a four pronged Sri Lankan seam attack.

After Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga and Thilan Thushara picked up a wicket each, Mathews produced some unplayable deliveries to claim figures of six for 20, the best figures in an ODI at this venue surpassing Dilhara Fernando’s six for 27 against England two years back.

His figures are also the fifth best overall for Sri Lanka in ODIs.

Jayasuriya comeback

It was veteran Sanath Jayasuriya, who set it all up for the Sri Lankans with a sensational knock. He had been under tremendous pressure having failed with the bat in recent times. Jayasuriya had not made a half-century in ODIs for eight innings and, a s he has done so often during his career, he came up with his best against India, who have been at the receiving end of Jayasuriya exploits since his famous onslaught of the 1996 World Cup.

Runs came fast with Jayasuriya and Tillekeratne Dilshan in attacking mood brining up Sri Lanka’s 50 runs in just 41 balls. Extra bounce from Ishant Sharma proved to be Dilshan’s undoing when he was caught behind for 23, but there was no stopping Jayasuriya.

Mahela Jayawardene (17) was ruled stumped by umpire Gamini Silva, a decision that raised many eyebrows and Kumar Sangakkara parted soon for five. Angelo Mathews was promoted up the order above Thilina Kandamby and

Chamara Kapugedara and he was involved in a 70 run stand for the fourth wicket with Jayasuriya in 69 balls.

Ashish Nehra provided the breakthrough when he trapped Jayasuriya leg before wicket two runs short of his 29th ODI century. Jayasuriya faced just 79 balls for his 98 and hit 13 boundaries.

Kapugedara and Kandamby then added 83 for the sixth wicket in 92 balls before Kapugedara was run out for 36.

But there was no stopping Kandamby. Sri Lanka opted for the Batting Power Play with five overs to go and got away with as many as 53 runs in that period. Kandamby was involved in an unbroken 48 run stand for the seventh wicket with Nuwan Kulasekara in just 23 balls. The tail-enders’ contribution in the partnership was just three runs.

Kandamby remained unbeaten on 91 in 73 balls with 11 boundaries.

India began the run chase purposefully. They lost Dinesh Karthik with the total on 32 and then Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid put India back on track with a 35 run stand before Kulasekara picked up the crucial wicket of Tendulkar.

Malinga had Yuvraj Singh caught behind for 16 and from thereon it was Mathews’ show. He started off with the wicket of Suresh Raina, who was dismissed for a golden duck thanks to a spectacular catch by Sangakkara and from thereon the all-rounder was unstoppable.

He went onto win the Man of the Match award.

T Dilshan c Dhoni b Sharma 23

S Jayasuriya lbw b Nehra 98

M J’wardene st Dhoni b Pathan 17

K Sangakkara lbw b Harbhajan 5

A Mathews st Dhoni b Raina 19

T Kandamby not out 91

C Kapugedera run out 36

N Kulasekera not out 3

Extras: (4lb, 1nb, 10w) 15

Overs: 50.

Fall of wickets: 1-57, 2-94, 3-102, 4-172, 5-176, 6-259.

Did not bat: Thilan Thushara, Lasith Malinga, Ajantha Mendis.

Bowling: Nehra 9-0-62-1 (1nb,4w), R.P. Singh 8-0-58-0 (1w), Sharma 10-0-67-1 (1w), Harbhajan Singh 10-1-37-1 (2w), Pathan 7-0-45-1 (1w), Yuvraj Singh 3-0-20-0 (1w), Raina 3-0-14-1.

D Karthik c S’kkara b Thushara 16

S Tendulkar c Mendis b K’sekara 27

R Dravid b Mathews 47

Yuvraj Singh c S’kkara b Malinga 16

S Raina c S’kkara b Mathews 0

MS Dhoni b Mathews 8

Y Pathan c S’kkara b Mathews 1

Harbhajan Singh b Mathews 4

RP Singh not out 19

A Nehra b Mathews 1

I Sharma c sub b Mendis 13

Extras: (b 1, lb 1, w 14) 16

Fall of wickets: 1-32, 2-67, 3-105, 4-108, 5-126, 6-129, 7-130, 8-135, 9-139, 10-168

Bowling: Kulasekara 8-1-35-1 (2w), Thushara 6-0-34-1, Malinga 8-0-33-1 (5w), Dilshan 2-0-17-0, Mathews 6-0-20-6, Jayasuriya 2-0-5-0, Mendis 5.2-0-22-1 (1w)

Umpires: Kumar Dhramasena, Sri Lanka and Billy Doctrove, West Indies.

TV Umpire: Gamini Silva, Sri Lanka. Match Referee: Chris Broad, England.