Zaheer, Mishra restrict Sri Lanka

Zaheer Khan and Amit Mishra shared six wickets as India restricted Sri Lanka to 213 in a triangular one-day series match here on Sunday despite half-centuries from Kumar Sangakkara and Suraj Randiv.

Skipper Sangakkara top-scored with 68 for his 54th half-century and lower-order batsman Randiv made 56 for his maiden fifty, but Sri Lanka still failed to set a stiff target in the day-night match.

Left-arm paceman Zaheer finished with 3-38 off 10 disciplined overs, while leg-spinner Mishra took 3-40.

Sri Lanka have already made it to the final with three successive wins, while India have so far posted one victory in two games. Bangladesh have lost all of their three matches.

Sri Lanka were struggling at 84-6 after electing to bat, but Randiv added 59 for the seventh wicket with Sangakkara and as many runs for the next wicket with Thilan Thushara (28).

Sangakkara fell in the 30th over, caught by Suresh Raina at mid-wicket while attempting to pull part-time spinner Yuvraj Singh after hitting nine fours in his 78-ball knock.

Sri Lanka suffered an early setback when Upul Tharanga was caught at first slip by Dinesh Karthik off seamer Sudeep Tyagi in the opening over. Tharanga, who made a century in the last match, failed to open his account this time.

Tillakaratne Dilshan, who missed the last two games because of an injury, looked in punishing mood as he cracked five fours in Tyagi's successive overs.

India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni replaced Tyagi with Zaheer, who struck in his opening over when he had Dilshan caught by Gautam Gambhir. Dilshan hit eight fours in his 17-ball 33.

Sri Lanka's chances of reaching a challenging total receded sharply when they lost Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Thilina Kandamby and Thissara Perera in the space of 24 runs.