Teenage paceman sinks Sri Lanka

Indian batsman Yuvraj Singh hits a boundary on the way to India's victory over Sri Lanka in their sixth one-day-international match in Rajkot on Wednesday. India won the match by eight wickets to lead the series 5-1 in the seven-match series. PHOTO: AFP

India's paceman Rudra Pratap Singh grabbed four wickets to set up a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in their sixth one-day-international match on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old left-arm bowler extracted sharp bounce on a flat pitch to claim four for 35 to help skittle the visitors for 196 in 42.5 overs after stand-in captain Viren-der Sehwag opted to bowl first.

India to 197 for three in 34.5 overs to extend their lead in the series to 5-1 with a game left.

Left-hander Yuvraj Singh smashed nine fours and three sixes to remain 79 not out, sharing a racy 105-run partnership for the unbeaten fourth wicket with Mohammad Kaif (38 not out).

Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan struck 59 but the rest of the batsmen strug-gled against largely inexperienced bowling.

Fast Dilhara Fernando removed both openers early but Sri Lanka did not have enough runs to defend.

Gautam Gambhir (28), fresh from his maiden one-day hundred in the last game, played on to his stumps and Sachin Tendulkar (19) holed out to mid-on. India were down to 92 for three after Sehwag (22) was out to leg-spinner Upul Chandana.

However, the 24-year-old Yuvraj, who made just 45 runs in the first five games, regained his touch to hit his 19th one-day fifty, playing superb shots in his 67-ball effort.

Sri Lanka's top-order batsmen faltered again on a good batting pitch in the morning.

Pacemen S. Sreesanth and Irfan Pathan struck early to remove opener Sanath Jayasuriya (19) and No. 3 batsman Kumar Sangakkara (9) respectively.

R.P.Singh, named man of the match, surprised opener Upul Tharanga (28) with extra bounce to force him to edge a catch behind the stumps.

Bowling the tall bowler then had skipper Marvan Atapattu top-edge a shot to be caught at mid-on for nine.

Dilshan his third consecutive fifty to rescue the innings from 83 for five in the 18th over.

The 29-year-old batsman struck nine fours in an assured display.

The final game will be played in Baroda tomorrow.