Sachin Tendulkar hit a composed 49 as India comfortably beat Sri Lanka byfour wickets in the third triangular one-day international at the Oval yesterday.
After Sri Lanka had made 202 for eight off their 50 overs, India reachedtheir target with 28 balls to spare, with Mohammad Kaif unbeaten on 38.
It was India's second win in two games, and leaves them leading the seriesafter their six-wicket victory over England at Lord's on Saturday.
"We played pretty well today, it wasn't an easy wicket to bat,"said India captain Saurav Ganguly. "We also played a pretty tight gameagainst England yesterday and playing back-to-back one-dayers isn't easy.
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"We always knew if we could take wickets we had a good chance in thisgame. Our fielding was good today and our fitness has improved over the lastmonth."
While Tendulkar top-scored for the Indians, their victory was based aroundtwo partnerships and a superb spell of bowling from man-of-the-match AjitAgarkar.
Tendulkar shared a stand of 71 with Dinesh Mongia, Kaif then led India to thebrink of victory with a 60run-partnership with Yuvraj Singh (31), and Agarkardismissed three Sri Lankan batsman in a seven-over spell that conceded just 20runs.
"Sachin's (Tendulkar) innings was important, but it was important thatwe all performed well as a team," added Ganguly.
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"Yuvraj (Singh) and Mohammad (Kaif) came in at 135 for five and theyplayed very well to see us through.
"It was also great to see Rahul Dravid keeping well. He's been arevelation in the last two games -- he allows us to play an extra batsman andbat down (the order) deep."
After taking 10 off their opening over, Ganguly was the first Indian to fall,leg before to Chaminda Vaas for seven.
Vaas claimed his second wicket when Virender Sehwag was caught by SanathJayasuriya at in the deep, reducing India to 26-2.
Tendulkar steadied the ship before Mongia was well caught by Vaas on thefine-leg boundary off Dilhara Fernando.
Tendulkar, having earlier stunned a pigeon with a well-hit shot, waseventually caught behind by wicket keeper Romesh Kaluwitharana off a superbNuwan Zoysa delivery.
Kaif and Yuvraj then enjoyed their productive spell at the crease, before thelatter was caught by substitute Chaminda Silva off Fernando.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had enjoyed a brisk start as openers Jayasuriya (36) andKaluwitharana (15) put on 42 off the first 43 balls.
But their progress was halted by Agarkar's impressive spell, which includedthe wicket of Kaluwitharana with his first ball.
Sri Lanka have yet to secure a victory from their first two games, havingalso lost to England at Trent Bridge.
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"After we play England again, we'll be at halfway stage -- if we losethat one it will be difficult to come back," said Sri Lanka coach DavWhatmore.
"I can't fault the team for effort and I know if they improve slightlyin key areas then we can turn things around."
Mahela Jayawardene top-scored for Sri Lanka with a patient 62, sharing usefulpartnerships of 43 with Upul Chandana and 42 off 46 balls with Vaas, whofinished unbeaten on 26.
England face Sri Lanka in the next game at Headingley on Tuesday.
