Tendulkar's shot lights up India's day

Sri Lanka 202-8 India 203-6 India win by four wickets

After the excitement and tension of Lord's on Saturday, yesterday's all-Asian affair here failed to provide the sparkle that such an array of batting talent promised.

In a hard-fought game, where for once in this NatWest Series runs were hard to come by, it was India, showing greater confidence and calmness, who triumphed, recording a comfortable four-wicket victory with 28 balls remaining.

Picking highlights from a game that never really got going is hard, but one piece of cricket was worth the entrance fee alone. It was supplied by Sachin Tendulkar who top-scored for India with 49, but scratched around uncharacteristically throughout his innings. All, that is, apart from one hook shot off seamer Nuwan Zoysa.

The tall left-armer kept banging the ball in short, which appeared a tactic throughout Sri Lanka's defence of the 202 they posted. Having watched a couple fly over his shoulder, the little maestro decided to take the shot on and, but for the advertising boards high up at the back of the stand, the ball would have flown clean out of the ground and into the Cricketers public house on the other side of the road. It was a huge hit that must have carried 100 yards before bouncing back – and the mainly Indian crowd in a packed ground loved it.

India will have taken most pleasure from the area of their cricket that has received the most criticism in recent times, their fielding. This vital part of one-day cricket has been for years an area they have paid little attention to. However, under their Kiwi coach John Wright they are working hard and the results are there for all to see.

Sri Lanka's innings started spectacularly when their captain, Sanath Jayasuriya, having won the toss and deciding to bat first, cut Zaheer Khan for a six over third man in the second over of the day. The belligerent opener then put a further couple of heavy blows on the left-arm seamer before he was taken out of the attack.

He was replaced by the hustling, bustling medium/fast bowling of Ajit Agarkar, who removed Rumesh Kaluwitharana with his first ball. From the respectable position of 42 without loss in eight overs, the Sri Lankans were reduced to 97 for 5. Agarkar was the chief tormentor taking three wickets for 20 runs in an excellent seven-over opening spell that won him the man of the match award.

On a pitch that offered only steep bounce as encouragement for the bowlers, Sri Lanka's batsmen looked ready to return home in what has become a miserable tour. The shots which led to their demise were those of batsmen low in confidence, not knowing whether to play their aggressive game or bat responsibly.

The only player to stand out was the imperious Mahele Jayawardene, who has been their outstanding batsman all summer. It was only because of his talents that Sri Lanka achieved a score that gave them a slither of a chance.