The New Nation - Internet Edition

AP, Colombo

Captain Mahendra Dhoni's crucial 76 runs coupled with sharp seam bowling helped India beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs Sunday in the third one-day international to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series.

Winning the toss and electing to bat first, India made a moderate 237-9 in 50 overs. The visitors were in trouble on 91-4, when Dhoni came in to form two important partnerships - 54 with Suresh Raina (54) and 67 with Rohit Sharma (32) - to steer India away from a low total.

In reply, the host team was dismissed for 204 in 49 overs, despite a defiant 94 from captain Mahela Jayawardene who waged a lone battle for an unlikely victory after a top-order collapse left them struggling on 94-7.

Seam bowler Praveen Kumar made the breakthrough for the visitors, when he had Sanath Jayasuriya caught behind for 13 runs with the total on 18.

Only eight runs later, Zaheer Khan trapped the other opener Kumar Sangakkara (9) lbw.