- DELLMAR PHOTO
Sri Lanka's Dilhara Lokuhettige celebrates bowling Indian batsman Mahendra Dhoni during their one-day international yesterday in Dambulla. Sri Lanka won by three wickets.
DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, (Reuters)
SANATH JAYASURIYA battled through the pain of a dislocated shoulder to guide Sri Lanka to a tense three-wicket victory against India yesterday in the opening match of the Indian Oil one-day series which includes the West Indies.
Sri Lanka's top order struggled under lights until Jayasuriya, batting with the aid of painkilling, injections and a heavily-strapped shoulder, marshalled the lower order to finish unbeaten on 43.
Set a modest 206-run victory target after a good display from their bowlers, the hosts collapsed to 112-5 before Jayasuriya launched his rescue mission.
10 BALLS TO SPARE
The 36-year-old left-hander added 28 with Dilhara Lokuhettige (21), 32 with Upul Chandana (11) and 37 with all rounder Farveez Maharoof (23 not out) before reaching the target with 10 balls to spare.
Jayasuriya, who batted despite being aware that he could suffer serious tendon damage, hit six fours during his 50-ball knock.
Earlier, spinner Muttiah Muralitharan led the way in the absence of injured paceman Chaminda Vaas, taking three for 33 to restrict India to a modest total.
Muralitharan was well supported by the rest of the bowling attack, especially debutant seamer Lokuhettige (2-31).
India captain Rahul Dravid, in charge because Saurav Ganguly is serving a four-match ban, top-scored with a patient 54 from 96 balls.
Debutant Venugopal Rao chipped in with 38 and shared useful partnerships of 58 with Dravid and 37 with Irfan Pathan (21).
Harbhajan Singh (20 not out) and Zaheer Khan (20) added precious runs at the end with a 43-run stand.
Jayasuriya dislocated his right shoulder for the second time in his career while diving to stop a drive from Yuvraj Singh at mid-on.
He will undergo an MRI scan in Colombo tomorrow to assess the damage to the tendons around his shoulder joint.
Kumar Sangakkara (14),
opening the innings after Jaysuriya's injury, started in a confident mood with two leg-side boundaries before being trapped lbw by Irfan Pathan.
Marvan Atapattu (29) and Mahela Jayawardene (15) settled during a 36-run partnership.
But Sri Lanka stumbled when Atapattu, trying to pinch a quick single, was run out following a direct hit from debutant Suresh Raina. Jayawardene failed to survive much longer and was bowled by Zaheer Khan to leave the hosts 60-3.
Russel Arnold (22) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (17) reclaimed the initiative with a 44-run stand.
HARBHAJAN TO THE RESCUE
Harbhajan pulled India back by claiming two quick wickets. He trapped Dilshan lbw and Arnold was bowled by a delivery that hurried on and kept low to leave Sri Lanka struggling on 112-5.
Jayasuriya came out to bat at number six and displayed his determination by steering Sri Lanka to victory.
The West Indies play India this morning (Ja time).
