Cuttack, Dec 21 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar hit a crafty unbeaten 96 to guide India to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third One-Day International of the five-match series here Monday.
India made 242 for three in 42.4 overs, chasing 240, with Tendulkar falling four short of what could have been his 46th ODI ton. Virender Sehwag gave a terrific start with his 28-ball 44, while Dinesh Karthik (36 not out) played the perfect foil to Tendulkar as India took a 2-1 lead in the series at the Barabati Stadium here.

But star of the day was left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up career-best four wickets for 32 as Sri Lanka failed to take advantage of a breezy start and were bowled out for 239 in 44.2 overs. Jadeja was also adjudged as the Man of the Match.

India also started the chase in the same breath, with Sehwag and Tendulkar adding 55 runs in just seven overs. Sehwag hit nine fours in his cameo and was caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan after he tried to slash hard at Chanaka Walegedera.

Gautam Gambhir (32) and Tendulkar then strengthened the innings with their 82-run partnership and at a time when Gambhir started to open his arms, spinner Suraj Randiv took a fabulous catch of his own bowling to dismiss the left-handed batsman.

Yuvraj Singh (23) also didn’t last long and edged Welegedara to skipper Kumar Sangakkara as India slumped from 127/1 to 169/3. But Tendulkar and Karthik played sensibly for their 73-run partnership to see India through.

Earlier, Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga (73) and Tillakaratne Dilshan, who hit an 18-ball 41, gave the visitors a run-away start with a 65-run stand after Sangakkara elected to bat. The first 58 runs came off in just four overs after Tharanga and Dilshan hammered Ishant Sharma for a 19-run over.

Dilshan was on a rampage right from the start but couldn’t make the most of the life he got, when on 36 wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik messed up a simple run-out attempt. Karthik atoned for his horrendous mistake by safely taking the skier to remove Dilshan off Ashish Nehra. Dilshan hit 10 boundaries in his brief stay.

Sangakkara (46) and Tharanga, advantaging from the great start, took the visitors to a position of strength with their 100-run stand for the second wicket but a middle-order collapse saw the visitors slump from 165/1 to 239 all out.

India started to pull back things in their favour after stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag with his gentle off-spin got Sangakkara, stumped by Karthik. After that Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals on a run-friendly track.

Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for just 74 runs with Jadeja accounting for Tharanga (73), Chamara Kapugedera (15), Nuwan Kulasekara (10) and Ajantha Mendis (6). Tharanga cracked a six and six fours in his 81-ball knock.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh bowled a good line for his 29 for one from nine overs. Ashish Nehra and Ishant Sharma also picked up two wickets each.