And India have won the series. First time they have beaten Sri Lanka in a bilateral series of ODIs in Sri Lanka. Thushara swung the full delivery straight to Raina at deep midwicket. The players get into a huddle of joy. Beyond the boundary, the chairman of selectors Vengsarkar shakes hands with Gary Kirsten.
Sri Lanka vs India, 4th ODI (Replay) at Colombo, Aug 27 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Dhoni walks away with a stump in hand, hugs Kirsten, who has now entered the arena, before being congratulated by the other members of the squad.
Hang on for the quotes from the post-match ceremony.
Mahela: We shouldn't take anything from India. After winning the toss, they put the runs on board. We made few errors on the way. The spinners are getting more turn in the end of the innings. But even today, after losing wickets, we were 40 runs away. You need to put in more disciplined effort while chasing. Jayasuriya gave us a good start but we didn't back it up. Thushara has done very well with the ball and the bat.
Dhoni: It was a good toss to win. It does a bit under the lights and later spinners get help. Zaheer bowled well, Praveen was ok and Munaf was there. We are a good fielding side and that is a plus point. Suresh [Raina] played well; it was disappointing that we both got out together and we couldn't get runs in the end. I had fever yesterday and hence I was struggling in the end.
Man of the Match Suresh Raina: "I enjoyed batting with Dhoni. We put lots of pressure on them. The wicket was turning and Harbhajan bowled very well. I did a good job here. Really happy for the team; we are going home with the Cup.
Vaas gets a award for taking 400 ODI wickets.
That's it from us. Thanks for logging on. Good bye and good luck!
Manoj: "Things would have been very different had SL won the toss.... But still a laudable effort!"
full toss on the off stump line, pushed to deep cover
backs outside leg stump and tries to biff the full delivery through covers but edges it to fine leg
another low full toss, just outside off stump, beats the swing across the line and Dhoni collects
low full toss, swatted to Zaheer at midwicket
leans forward to drive to Yuvraj at covers
full and outside off, slower, goes for the big drive, bottom edges to left of Dhoni. After some hesitation they go for the single and Dhoni's throw was wide
on the middle and leg line, misses the swing but will pick up a leg bye
full and outside off, driven to long-off. That brings Murali on strike.
MK49: "Beating Sri Lanka in SL must be a lovely feeling - just a shade less special than beating OZ in OZ. Go Dhoni!" If they do go on to win, as they should from here, this would be the first time India would have beaten Sri Lanka in a bilateral series in Sri Lanka
short in length and whizzing past the off stump, Murali tries to dab it to the off side and is beaten
edged but falls short of the diving Dhoni. Zaheer is operating from round the stumps
a very good yorker on the middle and leg line, dug out to mid-on region
Mendis is run out. It was pushed to backward point and didn't set off for the single. Thushara had rushed across and Mendis, late in responding, was never going to get to the other side to beat the throw to Zaheer from Rohit Sharma. India just a wicket away now.
low dipping full toss on the off stump, mistimes the swat to the mid-off region
goes for the yorker, on the leg stump line, off the pad to Dhoni
turning in from outside off, not sure whether there was a inside edge but it bounded off the pad and just short of the diving first slip. Harbhajan was getting interested before he holds his head. a very good spell from him. He took the main man - Jayasuriya to put India on top
pushes it through quicker and slips it down leg side
flighted outside leg stump, swept to left of short fine leg where Yuvraj makes a diving stop
short in length, turning on the middle and leg line, turned past square leg
slip comes in now
on the off stump line, jabbed to the off side