Sanath Jayasuriya hammered a quickfire 98 from 79 deliveries, including 13 boundaries, to give Sri Lanka a flying start in the third match of the tri-series, in Colombo, on Saturday.

Jayasuriya should have been run-out for a duck, but was lucky to survive, as Ishant Sharma at mid-off failed to hit the stumps at the non-strikers end in the second over.

However, the 40-year-old fell agonizingly short of his 29th ODI century when he was trapped leg before wicket as he went across and tried to play Nehra on the leg side.

Ishant Sharma (right) celebrates with team-mates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Ishant claimed the first wicket when Dilshan edged behind a wide delivery after scoring 23 from 27 deliveries.

Mahela Jayawardene (17) and Kumar Sangakkara (5) didn't last long as India staged a comeback reducing Sri Lanka to 102 for three in the 18th over.

However, Jayasuriya and Angelo Mathews ensured Sri Lanka kept the momentum in the middle overs as they added 70 runs in 69 deliveries for the fourth wicket.

It was Thilina Kandamby, who stole the batting honours, with a blazing knock of 91 from 73 deliveries, that included 11 boundaries.

Kandamby single-handedly boosted Sri Lanka's total in the final overs, hitting as many as five boundaries in the last two overs as Sri Lanka posted a huge 307 for six in their 50 overs.

India lost an early wicket when opener Dinesh Karthik tried to pull Thilan Thushara but ended up gloving to the wicketkeeper down the legside for 16 in the sixth over.

Sachin Tendulkar looked set for a big knock as he smashed a few boundaries early on but, like in the previous match, gave his wicket away tamely.

The veteran batsman failed to pick a slower delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara and lofted it straight to the mid-on fielder and was dismissed for 28 from 33 deliveries, inclusive of five boundaries.

All-rounder Angelo Mathews destroyed the Indian team with a six-wicket burst.

Suresh Raina lasted just one delivery, before he was caught behind as he attempted to open the face and guide one to the third man region.

Veteran Dravid toiled and even enjoyed some luck, surviving a couple of close run-out chances in successive overs. However, his luck was to run out soon when he was bowled through the gate by an incoming delivery from Mathews after a solid knock of 47 from 56 deliveries.

Mathews was having a dream day in office as he claimed two more wickets in his fourth over, that of Mahendra Singh Dhoni (8) and Yusuf Pathan (1).

Mathews had his fifth wicket of the innings, when Harbhajan Singh inside edged one to his stumps for 4.

Ashish Nehra was absolutely clueless, like all his colleagues, against Mathews' incutter and was also bowled through his defences for 1.

Mathews registered magnificent figures of six for 20 in six overs as India were bowled out for 168 in 37.2 and lost by a huge margin of 139 runs.