Dilshan's century guides Sri Lanka to a thumping win

Dambulla (IANS) - Tillakaratne Dilshan scored a fine century to guide Sri Lanka to a thumping 74-run win over India in the Triangular Series final at the Ranagiri Satdium here Saturday.

Dilshan hit 110, and with an 85-run stand with skipper Kumar Sangakkara (71) took the hosts to 299 for eight. Dilshan was also adjudged as the Man of the Match while Indian batsman Virender Sehwag was the Man of the Series.

In reply, India faltered right from the start and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni's fighting 67 went in vain as the visitors folded up for just 225 runs in 46.5 overs.

Seamer Thissara Perera wrecked the Indian batting with his three for 36 while Suraj Randiv and Lasith Malinga each picked up two wickets.

Sehwag (28), Virat Kohli (37) and Suresh Raina (29) got the starts but could not convert it into a big total.

Opener Dinesh Karthik was the first to depart in the sixth ball of the innings for a duck off Lasith Malinga.

Sehwag then took on the Sri Lankan bowling attack with a flurry of boundaries off Nuwan Kulasekera and Angelo Mathews. But the fiery show was short-lived as Sehwag was run out trying to attempt a non-existent leg bye.

Yuvraj Singh (26) also returned to the pavilion, well caught by Sangakkara.

Dhoni and Raina then tried to do the repair act with their 49 runs for the fifth wicket. In a bid to step up the run rate, Raina went for a big hit but mistimed it and Dilshan took a well-judged catch at the cover region.