Out-thought and outplayed

With a scoreline of 6-1, it's pretty obvious that one team has received a shellacking. Sri Lanka have been out-thought and then outplayed by India and the stats tell the tale.

For Sri Lanka, only Kumar Sangakkara averaged over 40 whereas Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni had skyscraping averages of 156 and 115 and three other Indians scored more than 50 per innings. Among the regular bowlers, only Sreesanth went for more than six an over while the others conceded less than 5.5, but for Sri Lanka, only Muralitharan gave less than 5.5 and most of the fast bowlers went for over six.

A look at the way the teams took advantage of the Powerplays further magnifies the gulf between the sides. Sri Lanka scored at more than a run a ball in just three of their 20 Powerplays while India managed it 11 times.

The crippling blow was the ineffectiveness of Sri Lanka's key players. Before this series, Sanath Jayasuriya averaged 40.26 against India but he could only manage a paltry 14.16 this time around. Chaminda Vaas normally averages 26.03 while playing India at 4.45 per over but in seven matches Vaas could only eke out four wickets at 76.25 apiece while leaking runs at 6.03 per over. Even the wily Muttiah Muralitharan was below his high standard, taking just six wickets in five games. Sri Lanka's spinners, who are experts at administering the slow death at home, were countered effectively, and after their fast bowlers were carted everywhere, this was the killer punch.

Throughout the series, India have built their innings beautifully. In almost all the matches the top three batsmen got off to quick starts and the middle order set the innings up perfectly for the slog where India drove home the advantage. In Sri Lanka's case, the top order failed repeatedly and it was left to the middle order to salvage the innings. India's flexible batting order worked marvellously and their No. 3 contributed 342 runs at an average of 57 while his Sri Lankan counterpart could only manage a meagre 140 runs at 20 per innings.