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Port of Spain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni once again lived upto the 'Captain Cool' tag as he held his nerve to almost singlehandedly guide India to yet another title triumph with a narrow one-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a thrilling final of the the Tri-nation ODI series.
Needing 15 from the last over in their chase of 202, Dhoni smashed Shaminda Eranga for two sixes and a boundary in just four balls to finish off the game in style at the Queen's Park Oval.
Dhoni saw Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and R Vinay Kumar getting dismissed in quick succession, but himself showed nerves of steel to steer his side home in company of number 11 Ishant Sharma.
The result also meant that the Champions Trophy winners' recent run of success in the 50-over format continued.
As the captain slammed Eranga over extra cover for the winning shot, the Indian crowd erupted in joy and the jubilant players ran down the pitch to flank the man of the moment, who remained unbeaten on 45 off 52 balls.
Coming in at the fall of Suresh Raina's wicket with India in a spot of bother at 145 for five in the 35th over, Dhoni added important runs with lower-order and in the process hit five fours and two sixes.
In pursuit of what seemed like a modest target, India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli early to Eranga.
Sharma found an ally in Dinesh Karthik with whom he added 50 runs for the third wicket before the wicketkeeper-batsman was dismissed for 23. Sharma then forged a 62-run stand in eight overs with Raina to consolidate India's position.
Sensing the need to bid time in the middle, Sharma and Raina played sensible cricket before the Mumbaikar was done in by a Herath ball that kept low before hitting the stumps.
This was Herath's second wicket, after he sent back Karthik who was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at slip.
Earlier, India benefited immensely after Sri Lanka's middle and lower-order batsmen committed hara-kiri, which saw the team lose eight wickets for just 30 runs before being bundled out for 201.
Sent into bat, Sri Lanka were sitting pretty at 171 for two in the 38th over, but lack of application saw them being packed off with seven balls left in their innings.
Jadeja was the most successful Indian bowlers returning figures of 4/24 while there were two wickets apiece for Bhuvneshwar, Ishant and Ashwin.
Bhuvneshwar made use of seaming conditions to send back Upul Tharanga and Mahela Jayawardene. Incidentally, the duo had punished India with a double-century partnership in the match that the young seamer was dropped.
Sri Lanka then rode on Sangakkara (71) and Lahiru Thirimanne's 122-run partnership for the third wicket to stage a fightback before their innings disintegrated due to some mindless batting. Thirimanne scored 46 off 72 balls.
From a comfortable position with about 12 overs to go, Sri Lanka were left licking their wounds at 193 for seven in the 46th over when skipper Angelo Mathews got out. None of the last six batsmen could reach double figures.
Sri Lanka made a cautious start but after reaching 27 in the seventh over, the islanders suffered their first blow when Bhuvneshwar changed his angle to induce an inside edge from Upul Tharanga.
After being carted for two fours through the offside by Thirimanne, Ishant was at the receiving end of Sangakkara's treatment. Not content hitting two successive fours in the 38th over's first two balls, Sangakkara launched into Ishant smashing his length ball straight down the ground for a six.
But the over turned to be an eventful one as Ishant finally tasted success having Thirimanne caught by Bhuvneshwar at midoff. Soon Sri lanka suffered another jolt as Ashwin joined the party by removing Sangakkara with a tossed-up ball.
Sangakkara's mistimed drive was taken by Vinay Kumar, who ran a few steps backwards from mid-on, to complete a catch.
Ashwin struck again as he had Kusal Perera who was swiftly stumped by Dhoni. After fighting their way back into the match, Sri Lanka were crumbling with Jadeja having Dinesh Chandimal. Mathews followed suit as Sri Lanka's innings approached its end.
Earlier, Indian captain MS Dhoni won the toss and decided to bowl.
The reigning Champions Trophy winners, India, were boosted for the finale as regular skipper Dhoni returned to the playing XI after being laid low by a hamstring injury. The Indians also brought in pacer Vinay Kumar in the team in place of Umesh Yadav.
For Sri Lanka, Suranga Lakmal has come into the playing XI for Dilhara Lokuhettige, while Kusal Perera has replaced Jeevan Mendis.
Mahela Jayawardene to join 400 Club, he is third batsmen in ODI history achieved this milestones after Indian Sachin Tendulkar and Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya
Teams:
India : MS Dhoni (Capt & wk.), Virat Kohli, Ravichandran Ashwin, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Vinay Kumar.
Sri Lanka : Angelo Mathews (Capt.), Kusal Perera, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga, Suranga Lakmal
Brief scores
Sri Lanka 201 (Sangakkara 71, Thirimanne 46, Jadeja 4-23, Bhuvneshwar 2-24)
India 203 for 9 (Rohit 58, Dhoni 45*, Herath 4-20)
Result India won by 1 wicket
MOM MS Dhoni (India)
Player of the series Bhuvneshwar Kumar (India)
