Skipper Kumar Sangakkara commended the efforts of openers Mahela Jayawardene and Tillakaratne Dilshan for their match winning contribution that helped Sri Lanka clinch the Tri Nation final against India in Dambulla.

Dilshan was the hero for Sri Lanka while scoring his maiden hundred at home and also received got good support from Jayawardene during an opening stand of 121 runs which set the platform for a total of 299 for eight and ultimately a 74-run win.

“It was a good toss to win,” said skipper Sangakkara. “We talked a lot about getting through the first 10 overs. Mahela and Dilshan started well and continued to bat really well.”

Sangakkara also singled out Thisara Perera, who took three wickets for 36 in his nine overs as India were bowled out for 225 in reply. “His bowling has been very impressive in the last couple of games,” Sangakkara said.

The home captain, who hit 71 off 62 in a winning cause, also praised Champaka Ramanayake, the bowling coach, for doing “a great job with the fast bowlers”.

“The discipline in line and length has been the real key for us,” he said after Perera and Suraj Randiv claimed three wickets each.

It was a stiff target – Dhoni

Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni stated that 300 was a big total to chase on a sporting pitch but felt his batsmen failed to apply themselves after getting starts by most of them. “Of course 300 was a stiff target, especially on a sporting pitch like at Dambulla.”