Dambulla: The worst nightmare for any Indian cricket fan came true in the first ODI between Sri Lanka and India! All the Indian batsmen were nothing more than lame ducks sitting in front of the blazing bowling of Sri Lanka. It was sheer discipline and control that helped Sri Lanka’s bowlers in bringing the Indian batsmen to thier knees!

Rangiri Dambulla Stadium became witness to the lowest score made by any Indian side in Lanka. In a disgraceful display India was bowled out for 146, its lowest score in Sri Lanka. Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan proved very successful in keeping Indian side under sustained pressure.

On the batting front as well Lankan side performed well. Jayawardene’s unbeaten 61 in 82 balls proved crucial in the victory for his side. This score included 7 magnificent fours. He was successful in building partnership of 102 with Chamara Kapugedera. Kapugedera went 45 not out. Both these performances with bat, helped Sri Lanka complete an eight-wicket win. Over all the Lankan side came up with an excellent all-round batting and bowling performances.

Earlier in the day after winning the toss India came to bat first. But shed three early wickets to Sri Lanka’s opening bowlers. This loss debilitated the strong ground needed to beat Lanka on their home ground. In the Indian batting order much responsibility was on shoulders of Gautam Gambhir especially after an ankle injury forced Virender Sehwag out.

But this otherwise very successful opener lasted just two deliveries. He was sent back by Vaas at duck. Soon V. Kohli was lbw at a ball by Kulasekara at 12 runs. The young Lankan player Kulasekara struck a double blow by removing debutant Virat Kohli and No. 3 Suresh Raina.

S. Raina’s catch was taken by Silva off Kulasekara at 17. The young and energetic Yuvraj was successful in making 23 runs before he was sent back by Mendis. Earlier he was dropped at second slip on 5 but this time there was no escape. Later Rohit’s catch was taken by Jayawardene off Thushara at just 19 runs. These dismissals proved fatal for India. Very soon India had lost its top five for 75 within the 21st over.

Much was expected from captain Dhoni at this moment but he too failed miserably. Dhoni tried to cut Mendis, but it went no further than slip and Dhoni’s catch was taken by Jayawardene at mere 6. The dismissals were not going to stop here, soon Irafan was lbw off Muralitharan at 7. Harbhajan made 12 before being out by Muralitharan at 12.

Zaheer followed him after making 12 runs off Muralitharan again. P. Ojha was not out 16 and Munaf made 15 runs. This way the miserable target of 147 was set for the Lankans. The whole performance of Indian team proved that the team was under great pressure and could not come out of this trap.

For the next games the Indian team will have to come up with new and effecient game plan and strategy. The only good thing for Indian side was the performance of lower order. It was left to the lower-order to bring the total some respectability and that they did admirably. They took the Indian total from 87 for seven to 146. Ojha and Munaf added 29 for the last wicket which was the second-best partnership of the innings. Munaf also struck a monster hit for six off Muralitharan that was worth a few smiles on an otherwise bad day.

When it came to batting the Lankan side did not have an uphill task to perform. Mahela Jayawardene cracked a responsible half-century to take his side to a crushing eight-wicket victory over India. This was his 47th half-century. So the modest 147-run target never appeared difficult. The man-of-the-match was an obvious choice - Ajantha Mendis. He along with Muttiah Muralitharan exposed India’s batting limitations against spin.

Sri Lanka lost opener Sanath Jayasuriya (10) and Kumar Sangakkara (19) in seamer Munaf Patel’s opening spell, but Jayawardene and Chamara Kapugedera (45 not out) ensured the win with a 102-run stand for the third wicket. This way Lanka got an emphatic win and registered a lead in the 5 match series.