India thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the fourth and final one-dayer
to clinch the Hero Honda Cup series 2-1 here at Vizag stadium. 
Chasing the target of 260, Robin Uthappa and Sehwag
provided hurricane start to the hosts. Uthappa scored 52 runs in just 37 deliveries
while out-of-form opener Sehwag missed his much wanted fifty when he seemed
callous and distracted as he was completing a run off Malinga.
Instead of getting inside the crease, he was strolling down
the pitch watching the ball. Sangakkara’s direct hit ended the Sehwag’s
inning as the third umpire gave him run-out for 46.
Yuvraj, who was laid low by a knee injury for nearly three
months, proved his fitness and form beyond doubt by unleashing an array of breathtaking
shots during his 83-ball knock while Sourav Ganguly maintained his sequence
of impressive scores which helped the hosts surpass the Lankan total without
much fuss on a good batting strip.
Chamara Silva, who scored his maiden ton today, was
elected ‘Man of the Match’ and Sourav Ganguly was declared
‘Hero of the Series’.
The series triumph will serve as a morale booster for the Indians before going
into the March-April mega event in the Caribbean where they are clubbed with
the Sri Lankans in the same group in the preliminary stage.
Put into bat after a delayed start due to a wet outfield, the Sri Lankans recovered
from a top order collapse to post a competitive 259 for seven in 47 overs with
Silva doing the bulk of the scoring with a heroic unbeaten 107.
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