Thursday, August 28 2008 -- In the fourth ODI match of the 5 match series played between Sri Lanka and India on 27th August, 2008, India kept their nerve and went on to win the crucial decider and the series. The series was the first series win that India made in Sri Lanka.

Match Brief

India who won the toss and choose to bat first made 258 runs with opener Virat Kohli scoring 54 runs in 66 balls which also included 7 boundaries. Though Yuvraj Singh failed to click one again and got out for a duck, it was the Suresh Raina and Indian captain MS Dhoni and who cemented themselves with 76 and 71 runs respectively and helped India achieve the score. For the Sri Lankans, it was fast bowler Thilan Thushara who helped restrict the Indians by claiming 5 wickets for 47 runs in 8.4 overs including the wickets of Dhoni and Raina. Coming on to chase the target set by the Indians, the Sri Lankans lost wickets at regular intervals. Sanath Jayasuriya was the only player to cross fifty runs in the Sri Lankan innings with 60 runs in 52 balls including 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. Even a last ditched effort by Thushara could not save the Sri Lankans as they were all out for 212 runs with over 3 overs left. Thushara scored 40 runs in 29 balls including 2 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Captains speak

MS Dhoni

Dhoni who was happy with the teams efforts had earlier said, “Contributive efforts are better because you are not relying on one individual” He also said, “You will get individual performances brilliantly, but it's always better to win through a team effort. Everyone can enjoy it that way”. “It was a good toss to win, there was something in the wicket for the spinners and they got a lot of turn. Even the pacers did well” said Dhoni. “All the member of the team backed each other and took up responsibility when it was required and this actually helped the team. Suresh batted beautifully, we were having a good partnership but we got out at crucial moments and did not score as much as we would have wanted in the last 10 overs. I think we should have scored at least 25 runs more”.

M Jayawardene

Sri Lankan Captain, Mahela Jayawardene who expressed his disappointment in loosing the match that decided the series said, “I was disappointed the way we played. We had our opportunities” “Our one-day cricket hasn't been consistent especially the overall performances with the bat. If you are not capable of getting the runs it's quite difficult to win matches”. He also said, “That is something we really have to work with. Our guys need the confidence to go out there and express themselves which we have asked them to do. But they haven't been consistent. We definitely need to work hard and make sure we get it right because this is our future. We just need to make sure our batting is consistent. But they haven't been consistent. We definitely need to work hard and make sure we get it right because this is our future”. Talking about the upcoming match Jayawardene said, “We do have some cricket in the near future so it's important that we finish on a high note, we played some really good cricket throughout the Test series and one-day series. It will be disappointing if you just give up on the next game”

The match was India’s third consecutive win after loosing the first ODI in Dambulla. The fifth and final match will be played on 29th August at Colombo.