Virender Sehwag's unbeaten 99 guided India to a valuable bonus point win over Sri Lanka in Dambulla to level up the tri-series at one win each.

India were in control of the match throughout, restricting Sri Lanka to just 170 all out after Kumar Sangakkara had won the toss.

Sehwag then navigated the Indian chase safely through a shaky period when three early wickets had given the home side hope. And with support from Suresh Raina and the experience of MS Dhoni, Sehwag was able to see India home comfortably inside 35 overs. The bonus point could prove vital for India after their net run-rate suffered heavily in the loss to New Zealand last week.

Sri Lanka made the worst possible start to the day with the mainstay from last week's win over the Kiwis, Upul Tharanga, bowled off the first ball of the innings.

Thereafter the home side continued to play catch-up and were soon in even more trouble with key men Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene back in the dressing room with just 23 on the scoreboard. Sangakkara was done by Ashish Nehra and Jayawardene left the field unhappy after being given out lbw by Praveen Kumar.

Despite losing his two most senior partners Tillakaratne Dilshan continued to battle, and while not at his his best the aggressive opener began to find his touch.

Dhoni turned to spin and in the third over of his spell Pragyan Ojha tempted Dilshan into a slog sweep which flew off the top edge and was safely caught by Rohit Sharma to send the Sri Lankan top scorer on his way for 45.

The Indian captain's approach was to rotate his bowlers continuously and they all chipped as wickets fell at regular intervals. Ravindra Jadeja (2 for 34) bowled superbly and was responsible for the middle-order wickets of Angelo Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera, leaving Sri Lanka in serious trouble at 103 for seven.

The Sri Lankan tail then rallied with Suraj Randiv leading the fight. The off spinner played intelligently as he and Nuwan Kulasekara added some respectability to the Sri Lankan total. Kulasekara added 22 runs and Randiv scored 43 before being the last man out, caught at cover off Ojha as the hosts were bowled out in 46.1 overs.

All the Indian bowlers contributed with wickets shared amongst all except for Sehwag. The new ball duo of Kumar and Nehra took three wickets between them up front and Ishant Sharma contributed with two timely breakthroughs in the middle of the innings. The spin pair of Ojha (3 for 36) and were disciplined throughout, completing a well-balanced bowling performance.

Defending only 170 the home side needed to make early inroads and the noisy home crowd thought they had done just that when Virender Sehwag was bowled off the final ball of Lasith Malinga's first over. The stumps were shattered but it counted for nothing because of a free-hit after a no-ball the delivery before.

With his strike bowler Malinga and opening partner Nuwan Kulasekara unable to find the early breakthrough, Sangakkara turned to Mathews and Dilhara Fernando. Like he had done against New Zealand, Mathews struck to get rid of opener Dinesh Kartik.

New man Virat Kohli lasted just three balls before he fell to Fernando, caught by a brilliant diving catch from Sangakkara behind the stumps. Rohit Sharma was also out for a duck shortly afterwards, the victim of an unfortunate lbw which appeared to have come off an inside edge. With the top order crumbling there was suddenly excitement in Sri Lankan ranks.

Raina strode out in his 100th ODI and showed his experience, battling through a tough opening period to grind out a highly valuable 22. Just as the left-hander began to look comfortable he hit the ball straight down the throat of Upul Tharanga, who juggled before holding onto the catch in the deep.

Sri Lanka had a glimmer of hope once again with a long Indian tail beckoning. But the Indian captain was resolute and never looked in trouble as he and Sehwag shared an unbeaten stand of 80 to hand India an ultimately very comfortable victory. Dhoni finished unbeaten on 23 as the talismatic opener accelerated towards three figures.

Sehwag had not passed fifty in his previous 11 ODI innings since clubbing the unfortunate Sri Lankans for 145 in Rajkot in November last year. This time around it was a more disciplined knock from the explosive opener who had to show patience for large periods of his innings.

One short of three figures and with five runs still to get for victory Sehwag was denied his hundred as Suraj Randiv conceded four byes and then bowled a no-ball. The over-step from the spinner was clubbed for six by Sehwag but the extra had already given India victory, making the six runs inconsequential as the India opener was left stranded on 99 not out.

Shot Of The Day
Virender Sehwag was subdued for much of his innings, showing the maturity to curb his aggressive instinct when India were in early trouble. With the game won he reaped the rewards late on and for its significance as much as anything Sehwag's first six of his knock off Mathews was the shot of the day. It signalled the Indian opener's submission to his natural instincts as he surged towards three figures. Mathews bowled a slower ball and Sehwag in characteristic fashion smashed it over wide long-on for six.

Delivery Of The Day
Praveen Kumar is proving a highly valuable new-ball bowler for India. Against the Kiwis he made early inroads with his controlled swing and again today he struck up front, as early as his first delivery, to see off Upul Tharanga. Angling the ball across the left hander from over the wicket Kumar swung the ball back into Tharanga before it pitched and seamed away, squaring up the batsman and knocking his off-stump over. It was a fantastic piece of swing bowling which would have done for most batsmen.

Defining Moment Of The Day
Tharanga was in fine form against New Zealand last week and his side would have been hoping for another solid knock to anchor the innings. Kumar Sangakkara at number three would hardly have been expecting to have to had to walk out to face the second delivery of the day. Sri Lanka were stung by the early breakthrough, especially after having won the toss, and never truly recovered.

Doug Saxby