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It was the Indian fielding which came to the aid of their fast bowlers when they were being pummelled by Tillakaratne Dilshan. It wasn't anything spectacular: they just converted every opportunity the bowlers created - a big improvement on their recent fielding form - and just like that India had reined in a murderous start from Dilshan and sent back six Sri Lankan batsmen for below 100 at one stage. Zaheer Khan was the pick of the bowlers, creating two of those opportunities in a spell that at one point read 6-2-11-2.

The first 11 overs were full of frenetic action: two wicket-maidens, on three occasions wickets fell in the first over of new spells, and in between there was scintillating batting from Dilshan, which ensured 40 of the first 42 runs came in boundaries. Dilshan perhaps, didn't want to test the injured groin that kept him away from the two previous games. Instead he just drove, cut, pulled and late cut eight boundaries in 17 deliveries to deflate any confidence that India and Sudeep Tyagi would have gained from sending back Upul Tharanga in the first over.

In the fifth over of the innings, Dilshan hammered Tyagi for his fifth, sixth and seventh boundaries, and then took a single - his first out of a score of 29, and Sri Lanka's second out of 38. Kumar Sangakkara, too, had smacked two boundaries by then, and India were in a familiar situaiton of not knowing where to bowl to the aggressive batsmen.

On came Zaheer, who was pulled for a four off his second ball, which was to be Dilshan's last. The next ball took a thick edge and looked to be dying on Gautam Gambhir at fine gully, but was snared. Zaheer was pumped, and then he proceeded to bowl to a plan that worked just fine for him: nothing to drive, short cover in place and playing on the batsmen's patience with the nagging accuracy. Mahela gave in, driving a ball he should not have, and Virat Kohli hung on to a sharp catch at short cover.

Back came Sreesanth, whose first two overs had gone for 16, and Thilan Samaraweera walked across to a straight delivery and missed. Forty-two for 1 in 5.2 overs became 61 for 4 in 10.2 overs. Soon Thilina Kandamby was run out, for the fifth time in his career. However, this time he was sold a dummy by his captain, and was done in a by a smart throw from Dinesh Karthik and snappy backing-up by Zaheer.

Thissara Perera, who had hurt India twice before this, appeared uncomfortable from the start. He got the bouncers and the verbals from Zaheer as defence didn't seem to be working. Amit Mishra had kept things tight, starting off with a maiden, and when Perera went for broke in his next over, Yuvraj Singh pulled out a special catch diving at wide long-on.

Six down in the 19th over, Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first in order to give their bowlers an experience of wet conditions under lights, were threatening to end the match even before dew would set in. Sangakkara had reached 32 off 42 by then, and took charge, taking the odd risk and not going into a shell altogether.

The immediate response to Perera's wicket was stepping out and hitting Sreesanth for four, and he then started placing the balls and making the most of every loose delivery that came for the spinners. By the 25-over mark, he had crossed his fifty, and had added 35 along with Suraj Randiv.

Welegedara was the last wicket to fall as he was stumped by Dhoni off Amit Mishra for 1.

Moments after the wicket of Thilan Thushara, India picked up yet another wicket as Amit Mishara cleaned up Suraj Randiv for 56. The Lankan scorecard read 209/9.

Suraj Randiv scored a fighting half-ton and put on a half century partnership with Thilan Thushara as Sri Lanka crawled back into the match after being reduced to 143/7 at one stage.

Sri Lanka, however, lost the wicket of Thushara soon after as he was brilliantly caught by Yuvraj Singh off Zaheer Khan for 28.

After fighting a lone battle for his team, Kumar Sangakkara finally departed for 68 as Sri Lanka were reduced to 143/7.

Sangakkara was caught by Suresh Raina off Yuvraj Singh as he mistimed a pull-shot.

Thisarra Perera departed to a stupendous catch by Yuvraj Singh off Mishra in the deep as Sri Lanka lost their sixth wicket with just 84 runs on the board.

Sri Lanka lost their fifth wicket in the form of Thilina Kandamby, who was run-out as a result of a mix-up with Sangakkkara for just 1.

Moments after the wicket of Jayawardene, Sri Lanka suffered another blow as they lost the wicket of Samaraweera for a duck. Samaraweera was trapped in front of the wickets by Sreesanth.

Zaheer Khan picked up his second wicket of the innings as he sent back Mahela Jayawardene to reduce the Sri Lankan team to 60/3.

Jayawardene was caught by Virat Kohli at short cover for 5.

After scoring 33 runs off just 17 balls, Tillakaratne Dilshan was sent back by Zaheer Khan, much to the relief of the Indian bowlers.

Dilshan was looking in ominous touch as he spanked 8 fours in his innings before being caught by Gautam Gambhir at slip.

Sudeep Tyagi took India off to a dream start as he removed Upul Tharanga in the very first over of the innings. Tharanga was caught by Karthik for a duck.

Sri Lanka skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and, a bit surprisingly, opted to bat first in their last league encounter of the tri-series against India.

India have made a few changes to their playing eleven from the last game against Bangladesh as they have decided to rest Sehwag, Harbhajan and Nehra and brought in Karhik, Mishra and Tyagi.

For the Lankans, Dilshan is back while Malinga has made way for Welegedara.