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India celebrate - Source: Reuters -
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India completed a victorious tour with a three-wicket win
against Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 international on Wednesday.
Set 172 for victory in 20 overs, India overcame a mid-innings
collapse to secure a dramatic win thanks to a brilliant eighth
stand between brothers Yusuf and Irfan Pathan.
With India slumping to 115 for seven as leg spinner Malinga Bandara
claimed 3 for 32, the two Pathan's rescued India with an unbroken
59-run stand in just 25 balls.
Irfan Pathan smashed 33 from 16 deliveries with two sixes and Yusuf
stroked 22 in 10 balls with two sixes and one four.
India, who also won the one-day series 4-1, clinched victory with
four balls to spare with Irfan swinging a huge six over
mid-wicket.
Sri Lanka's stand-in captain Tillakaratne Dilshan top-scored for
the hosts with 61 from 47 balls, an innings that included seven
fours and one six.
Dilshan was provided early support from fellow opener Sanath
Jayasuriya, who crashed 33 from just 17 balls with two sixes,
helping add 59 for the first wicket in 5.5 overs.
Off spinner Yusuf Pathan was India's best bowler, taking two for 23
from four economical overs in the middle of the innings.
India started their run chase badly, slumping to 14 for two, but
Yuvraj Singh (32) and Suresh Raina (35) regained the initiative
with a 67-run stand.
Part-time off spinner Jehan Mubarak dragged Sri Lanka back into the
game dismissing Yuvraj.
Sri Lanka looked to be heading for victory as Jayasuriya bowled a
miserly spell, taking 1 for 10 from three overs, as India crashed
from 81 for 2 to 115 for 7.
However, the Pathan brothers finished off the match with a
thrilling partnership.
