Colombo: Sachin Tendulkar scored his 44^th one-day century and Harbhajan Singh picked up five wickets to script an emphatic 46-run win over Sri Lanka in the final of the Compaq Cup tri-series.

India, who were humiliated by 139 runs in the last league match which also cost them the world No.1 spot, first scored 319 for five and then bowled out Sri Lanka for 273 in 46.4 overs to settle the score.

If there were any doubts about Sachin Tendulkar having passed his prime, those were all put to rest by the little master as he scored his 44^th ODI century making 138 off just 133 balls. He played strokes all around the ground and looked at his fluent best throughout the innings. Interestingly, amidst all the debates about his retirement and him having passed his prime, this is Sachin’s 9^th hundred in the last two years and to add to that he has reached the 90’s on seven other occasions!

Dhoni won a crucial toss and decided to bat first and India were given the perfect start by the new opening pair of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid. They added 95 runs for the first wicket in just 17.2 overs before Dravid (39) held out to Dilshan in the covers off the bowling of Jayasuriya.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni promoted himself up the order to bat at No.3 and it paid off. Sachin and Dhoni added 110 for the second wicket as they took the game away from Sri Lanka with each passing over. Dhoni scored 56 off 62 balls before he was caught by Kandamby off the bowling of Malinga.

But there was no stopping Tendulkar. He brought up his 44^th ODI century as India pushed on the scoring rate. He was eventually dismissed for a brilliant 138 off 133 balls which included 10 fours and a six, But Yuvraj made sure that the scoring didn’t stop there. He made a quick fire 56 off just 41 balls including 6 fours and a six to propel India’s total past 300.

Chasing a mammoth 320-run target, Sri Lanka got the perfect start from Tillakaratne Dilshan (42 off 29 balls) and Sanath Jayasuriya (36) before running out of steam. Down the order, the 70-run stand between Thilina Kandamby (66) and Chamara Kapugedera (35) was a mere act of defiance and not enough to turn the match on its head.

Dilshan hit 42 off 29 balls when his dismissal in the eighth over, bowled by Harbhajan Singh, triggered a dramatic collapse in which five wickets fell for the addition of 67 runs.

Off-spinner Harbhajan finished with 5-56 signaling India’s morale-boosting win ahead of the eight-nation Champions Trophy which opens in South Africa on September 22.

Brief Scores:

India 319 for 5 (Tendulkar 138, Yuvraj 56*, Dhoni 56) beat Sri Lanka 273 (Kandamby 66, Harbhajan 5-57) by 46 runs

Man of the Match: Sachin Tendulkar

Man of the Series: Sachin Tendulkar

Tagged with: Chamara Kapugedera, Colombo, Harbhajan Singh, India, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka, Thilina Kandamby, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Yuvraj Singh

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