India continued their dominance over Sri Lanka to clinch their one-day international series at the earliest possible opportunity in Hyderabad.
Mahela Jayawardene’s 17th ODI century was not enough to stall India as they moved 3-0 up in the five-match series with a six-wicket win that hardly ever appeared in doubt.
Shikhar Dhawan’s 91 at the top of the order ensured the hosts were always on course after Sri Lanka were bowled out for 242.
That Sri Lanka managed that many owed almost exclusively to Jayawardene, who became the fifth batsman to pass 12,000 ODI runs, on his way to 118 from 124 balls.
But India have held the aces over the tourists at almost every turn in this series and even Jayawardene’s feat was put in some context as stand-in captain Virat Kohli became the fastest man to 6,000 ODI runs as he went to or beyond 50 for the 52nd time in his 136 innings in this format.
.@MahelaJay claims the MoM award for his hundred and joins the 12,000 run club in the 3rd ODI against India #IndvSLpic.twitter.com/c3cXUIXoYN
— ICC (@ICC) November 9, 2014
Umesh Yadav undermined Sri Lankan hopes almost immediately as he removed Kusal Perera and Kumar Sangakkara inside his first time overs en-route to returning a career-best 4-53.
Jayawardene then got to work, combining in a 105-run stand with Tillakarante Dilshan, to move Sri Lanka back towards level terms.
But when Dilshan was caught for 53, handing Ambati Rayudu just his second ODI wicket, Sri Lanka’s middle order failed to offer any meaningful support for Jayawardene before he was stumped charging Ravichandran Ashwin.
Dhawan then exploded from the start, cracking his 91 from 79 balls, and the rest of the India batsmen needed only to stay with him.
It was a job that managed without fuss, Kohli most significantly combining in a 70-run stand, before they coasted home with 35 balls in hand.