Sehwag shows his class again

Virender Sehwag (99 not out) scored his first half-century in 11 innings to take to a comprehensive six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the tri-series at Dambulla on Moday.

Chasing just 171 to win, the visitors, after an early wobble, reached home fairly comfortably.

The win, achieved in just 34.3 overs, also ensured India the bonus point.

The opener's last significant score was 146 against the same opposition at Rajkot in December last year.

He got good support from Suresh Raina (21), the duo putting on a crucial 59-run stand for the fourth wicket after India had been reduced to 32 for three at one stage.

Sehwag also shared an 80-run partnership for the fifth wicket with captain MS Dhoni (23 not out).

Earlier, Indian pacers and spinners exploited the bowling friendly conditions alike to bundle out hosts Sri Lanka for a meagre 170.

Skipper Kumar Sangakkara's decision to bat backfired as Indian bowlers were all over the hosts right from the first ball when Upul Tharanga was cleaned bowled by Praveen Kumar (two for twenty).

Opener Tharanga and his teammates were shell shocked when a swinging first ball of the match by Praveen Kumar uprooted the stumps, making the latter only the third Indian bowler - after Debashish Mohanty and Zaheer Khan (thrice) - to take a wicket off the first ball of the match.

Mahela Jayawardene (4) became second victim of Kumar, trapped leg before.

Pragyan Ojha, with figures of three for 36, was India's most successful bowler.

Tillakaratane Dilshan (45) was the only top-order batsman who showed stomach for fight but fell while going for an extravagant shot when situation demanded patience. 

He was batting beautifully but lost patience and top-edged to Rohit Sharma off Ojha.

Ojha also took the wickets of Suraj Randiv (43) and Lasith Malinga (5). 

Randiv's wicket brought the Sri Lankan innings to an end.

Ravindra Jadeja also struck twice by removing Chamara Kapugedara (10) and Angelo Mathews (15) to puncture all Lankan hopes.

He finished with figures of two for 34.

Had Suraj Randiv (43) and Nuwan Kulasekara (22) not played defiant knocks down the order, the hosts innings would have been wearing a more miserable look.

They put up a 39-run stand, highest of Lankan innings, for the eighth wicket to help Sri Lanka go past the 150-mark.

Angelo Mathews was Sri Lanka's best bwoler with figures of two for 32.

He dismissed Dinesh Karthik (10) and Rohit Sharma (0).

While Mathews had Karthik caught by Nuwan Kulasekara, he trapped Sharma up front.

Dilhara Fernando had Virat Kohli (0) caught behind to add to India's woes early on.

Then, Sehwag took over.