India beat Sri Lanka, India won by 7 wickets (with 45 balls remaining)

Good win this, one set in motion in the field when Sri Lanka lost nine wickets for 74 runs and slumped to 239. Nehra, Jadeja, Harbhajan and Ishant did the hard work then, and after a rousing 44 from Sehwag, Tendulkar patiently made an unbeaten 96. The fans wanted a century from him but he didn't manage one. Personal records should not matter, because the real victory is that India have taken a lead in the series.

Stick around for the post-match presentation.

Sangakkara says the bowlers tried hard but that Sri Lanka did not have enough runs after that mad collapse. Wants to keep fighting and enjoying. Believes Sri Lanka can come back into the series.

Sehwag says he was praying Sri Lanka did not cross 400. Credits the spinners for doing well. But has to name himself for taking a wicket. Good fun. Thanks Tendulkar for helping India win easily.

Jadeja is the Man of the Match for his four wickets. A crucial performance it was indeed. Yes sir, he says when asked by Ravi Shastri if he enjoyed himself. Classic Now he gets down to talking in Hindi. Says he liked the way he bowled, wanted to bowl slower, vary his pace. Adds that he is confident of keeping his place in the team. Thank you, sir, he signs off with. Foh fweet, as Charlie would say.

So that brings us to the end of the third ODI. Do join us for game four on December 24. Okay bye!

42.4

Malinga to Karthik, 5 wide

full down the pads, misses everything and India lead the series!

42.3

•

Malinga to Karthik, no run

loud shot as Karthik gets an inside edge, no chance

42.2

Malinga to Tendulkar, 1 run

goes full outside off, he stands there and opens the face, steering the ball out to third man

42.1

Malinga to Tendulkar, FOUR runs

well there's one of them, as he again walks across early and clips an inside edge off a full ball down the pads, beating a diving Sangakkara

Seven to win. Two fours for Tendulkar?

Over42

7 runs

IND 233/3CRR: 5.54 RRR: 0.87

KD Karthik 32 (30b 4x4 1x6)SR Tendulkar 91 (102b 12x4)

S Randiv1/33 (8)

41.6

•

Randiv to Karthik, no run

pitches outside leg and he turns it to midwicket

41.5

Randiv to Karthik, SIX runs

maximum! Dances out, collects on the full, and dumps it over long-on

41.4

•

Randiv to Karthik, no run

pushes it through just outside the line of impact, Karthik stabs at it and gets an inside edge

41.3

•

Randiv to Karthik, no run

slower ball, spins in, he defends and the ball gets tangled in his pad

41.2

Randiv to Tendulkar, 1 run

dances out and hits it on the bounce to the man down at long-on

41.1

•

Randiv to Tendulkar, no run

tossed up, Tendulkar sweeps from outside off stump with the turn, misses and survives marginally because he was hit slightly outside the line

Right, so Tendulkar needs ten, India need 14.

Over41

6 runs

IND 226/3CRR: 5.51 RRR: 1.55

KD Karthik 26 (26b 4x4)SR Tendulkar 90 (100b 12x4)

SL Malinga0/46 (9)

40.6

•

Malinga to Karthik, no run

swing there, another good yorker, Karthik clears his front leg and digs it out

40.5

•

Malinga to Karthik, no run

short of a length and Karthik stands tall to keep the ball at his feet

40.4

1lb

Malinga to Tendulkar, 1 leg bye

dangerous, walks right across his stumps and tries to paddle it, the ball is not as full and strikes him on the back leg, a very confident appeal but enough doubt in the mind because he was on the hop

40.3

Malinga to Tendulkar, FOUR runs

good placement from Tendulkar, who premeditates the full ball and walks across to flick it wide of deep fine leg for four

40.2

•

Malinga to Tendulkar, no run

good ball, aims for the yorker, gets some swing, Tendulkar walks across and gets an inside edge

40.1

1lb

Malinga to Karthik, 1 leg bye

full outside leg stump, flicks the pads and runs to deep fine leg

Over40

6 runs

IND 220/3CRR: 5.50 RRR: 2.00

SR Tendulkar 86 (97b 11x4)KD Karthik 26 (23b 4x4)

S Randiv1/26 (7)

39.6

Randiv to Tendulkar, 2 runs

sweeps from outside off stump with the turn and hits it hard, getting Kulasekara running across from fine leg, and that is the 50-run stand

Mid-on goes back for the last ball ...

39.5

Randiv to Karthik, 1 run

tossed up on a length, he gets forward and pushes into the covers

39.4

Randiv to Tendulkar, 1 run

slowly tossed up and he drives to deep extra cover

39.3

Randiv to Karthik, 1 run

tossed up, Karthik works it across the line past midwicket

Short leg is stuck in ...

India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI at Cuttack, Dec 21 2009 - Match Result