July 13, 2002	Saturday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 2, 1423

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BRISTOL (England), July 12: Sachin Tendulkar’s 33rd one-day international century was at the heart of India’s 63-run win over Sri Lanka in their day-night triangular match Thursday.

Tendulkar made 113 in India’s imposing 304 all out as they warmed up in fine style ahead of Saturday’s final against England at Lord’s.

Tendulkar was in majestic form, his hundred coming from just 93 balls and including one six and 10 fours.

Sri Lanka were in with a chance as long as wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara was at the crease.

He was one of a quartet of Harbhajan Singh victims, the off-spinner finishing with four for 46.

And after left-hander Sangakkara went for a rapid 66 off 47 balls the run-rate slowed, Sri Lanka all out for 241 with 35 balls remaining.

Chaminda Vaas was four not out.

Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a bad start when captain Sanath Jayasuriya (five) was lbw to left-arm quick Zaheer Khan’s second ball.

That left Sri Lanka 11 for one after seven deliveries but Sangakkara quickly rescued the situation.

Dropped on 13 by Tinu Yohannan, diving forward at mid-on, Sangakkara blazed away. His fifty came off 33 balls including one six and eight fours.

However, he was dropped again, on 55, when Mohammad Kaif in the covers failed to hold on to a drive off Ashish Nehra.

Sangakkara was so dominant against the seamers that India captain Sourav Ganguly brought on Harbhajan in the 13th over when the fielding restrictions were still in place.

And the gamble worked when Sangakkara was stumped by Rahul Dravid off Harbhajan’s fifth ball for 66, Sri Lanka 96 for two.

Mahela Jayawardene (31) helped Marvan Atapattu consolidate before he gave his wicket away, caught reverse sweeping off Yuvraj Singh’s left-arm spin..

Sri Lanka were now 160 for three in the 36th over and Jayawardene’s departure saw big-hitting tailender Nuwan Zoysa surprisingly promoted up the order.

But five runs later Atapattu (53) failed to beat Yuvraj’s direct hit from point and was run-out.

Zoysa struck Ganguly for one huge six but trying to repeat the stroke hit the ball straight down Dinesh Mongia’s throat at long-on.

And they were soon 188 for six when Russel Arnold (eight) was run out by Kaif’s diving underarm throw from cover.

India also lost their first two wickets to run-outs.

After Ganguly (nine) misjudged a second run, Virender Sehwag also failed to make his ground.

Sehwag’s 39 came off just 40 balls, including six fours.

Dinesh Mongia and Tendulkar continued to attack, sharing a stand of 99 for the third wicket before Mohammad Kaif chipped in with a quickfire 41 off 43 balls.

But Sri Lanka could not stem the flow of runs from Tendulkar’s bat until he was eventually caught by Upul Chandana off Vaas.

This result saw the Lankans finish their international season in England. They lost the Test series 2-0 and won just one of their six triangular matches.