CUTTACK, India (Reuters) – Sachin Tendulkar scored an unbeaten 96 to set up India’s seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international on Monday. India took a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Opener Tendulkar shared in three half-century partnerships to help India chase down their target of 240 in the day-night match in the eastern Indian city of Cuttack.

India left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja took a career-best four for 32 to restrict the tourists to 239 all out after they had opted to bat first.

Openers Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratane Dilshan (41) gave Sri Lanka a spectacular start before the Indian spinners, led by Jadeja, took charge.

“With the kind of start they got, I was praying they wouldn’t get 350 or 400 on the board,” India’s stand-in captain Virender Sehwag said. “The credit for the victory ought to go to the bowlers, especially Harbhajan (Singh) and Jadeja.”

Jadeja finished his spell of 10 consecutive overs with the wickets of Nuwan Kulasekasra (10) and Ajantha Mendis (6).

Tendulkar put on 55 for the opening wicket with Sehwag (44) and 72 for the next with Gautam Gambhir (32) to help India make a confident start in their reply.

Tendulkar, who missed compiling a record 46th ODI hundred, shared in an undefeated 73-run stand for the fourth wicket with Dinesh Karthik (36 not out) to guide the team to victory.

The explosive Sehwag, leading the team in the place of the suspended Mahendra Singh Dhoni, smashed nine fours before being caught off paceman Chanaka Welegedara.

Left-hander Gambhir was caught and bowled by off-spinner Suraj Randiv and Yuvraj Singh (23) fell to Welegedara before Tendulkar and Karthik took the team to victory.

“I was in good form and I utilised the first 10 overs very well and Tendulkar played right through the innings and ensured we won. Overall, this was an excellent team performance,” Sehwag said.

Earlier, Tharanga put on 65 with Dilshan, whose first eight scoring shots were boundaries, and 100 for the second with captain Kumar Sangakkara (46). But their last nine wickets fell for the addition of just 74 runs and the visitors were dismissed with 5.4 overs to spare.

“We had everything going for us, a blazing start and I managed to put on a good partnership with Tharanga which gave us a good base. But, too many wickets were lost and that was probably the story of the game,” said Sangakkara.
The fourth match will be played in Kolkata on Thursday.
SRI LANKA innings
U. Tharanga b Jadeja 73
T. Dilshan c Karthik b Nehra 41
K. Sangakkara st Karthik b Sehwag 46
M. Jayawardene c Raina b Harbhajan 2
T. Kandamby b Ishant 22
C. Kapugedara b Jadeja 15
N. Kulasekara lbw b Jadeja 10
S. Randiv c Karthik b Ishant 0
L. Malinga b Nehra 13
A. Mendis b Jadeja 6
C. Welegedara not out 2
Extras: (b-1, lb-2, w-6) 9
Total: (all out, 44.2 overs) 239
Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-165, 3-169, 4-173, 5-204, 6-210, 7-210, 8-218, 9-236.
Bowling: Zaheer 7-0-49-0 (w-4), Ishant 7-0-63-2, Nehra 6.2-0-32-2 (w-1), Harbhajan 9-0-29-1 (w-1), Sehwag 4-0-26-1, Jadeja 10-0-32-4, Yuvraj 1-0-5-0.

INDIA innings
V. Sehwag c Dilshan b Welegedara 44
S. Tendulkar not out 96
G. Gambhir c & b Randiv 32
Y. Singh c Sangakkara b Welegedara 23
D. Karthik not out 36
Extras: (lb 5, w-6) 11
Total: (three wickets, 42.4 overs) 242
Fall of wickets: 1-55, 2-127, 3-169.
Bowling: Welegedara 8-1-35-2 (w-1), Kulasekara 8-0-47-0, Malinga 9.4-1-55-0 (w-1), Mendis 9-0-67-0 (w-2), Randiv 8-1-33-1.
Next fixtures:
Fourth ODI, Kolkata, December 24
Fifth ODI, Delhi, December 27