Betfair | Singh on song as India clinch series

Singh on song as India clinch series

17 February 2007 | About Editor |

India clinched a 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka as Yuvraj Singh (95) and Sourav Ganguly (58no) chased down Sri Lanka's total with six overs to spare in Visakhapatnam.
Sri Lanka set a respectable total of 259-7 in a game cut to 47 overs by dew, but it was made to look inadequate by India's big hitters on a good batting surface.

Ganguly opened but left with cramp in the first over of India's innings allowing Robin Uthappa (57) and Virender Sehwag (46) to take advantage of the fielding restrictions of the power plays.
The former India captain returned to add 145 with Yuvraj who carved four fours and a six, to reduce the runner Ganguly had called for to a mere spectator at the finish.
Chamara Silva's maiden ODI century had earlier dragged Sri Lanka back from the brink at 56-4 in the 13th over.

Man of the match Silva - playing in only his 14th ODI and recently recalled after four years in the international wilderness - rebuilt the innings and gradually upped his scoring rate to finish on a run-a-ball 107no.

He showed good footwork against off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to hit a six and two fours in one over, and 76 runs came in the last seven.
But the home side comfortably knocked off the target score and will travel to the Caribbean in good heart for the World Cup after an easy win without star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who has a minor back injury.

India are available at 10 to break Australia's stranglehold on the tournament while Sri Lanka are 10.5 in a fairly stable winner's market.

The teams will meet again in Group B of the preliminary matches with India 1.7 favourites to come out on top over their rivals and minnows Bangladesh (30)and Bermuda (110), with Sri Lanka available at 1.91 to claim top spot.

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