India crush Sri Lanka in 4th ODI at Colombo
India on Thursday created history by recording their ninth One-day win on the trot when they thrashed Sri Lanka by 67-runs in the inconsequential fourth match, riding on Gautam Gambhir’s career-best 150-run knock. The Indian victory also spoiled Muttiah Muralitharan’s party as the Sri Lankan spin wizard became the highest wicket-taker in One-day cricket.
Apart from Gambhir’s scintillating knock captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 94 to propel India to an imposing 332 for five, after winning the fourth successive toss. The visitors then skittled out the hosts for 265 in 48 overs to take a 4-0 lead in the five match series.
Kumar Sangakkara played a defiant innings of 56 from one end but perished while attempting to put the accelerator button on, in the wake of mounting required run-rate. Indian spinners, led by Pragyan Ojha, bowled in tandem and played an important role in keeping the Sri Lankan scoring rate quite low.
Paceman Irfan Pathan, playing his first match in the series, emerged as the most successful bowler with three wickets while Virender Sehwag and Praveen Kumar took two wickets apiece. The last match of the series will be played on Sunday at the Sinhalese Sports Club and the brief tour will come to an end on February 10 with a Twenty20 match.
