Men in Blue seal series

Australian legend Ian Chappell had once said, “You tend to learn a lot when you lose than on the occasions when you win matches.” The statement did not make too much sense as Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat at the Eden Gardens, a move that was to backfire when their spinners would come to bowl under the lights. However, what started off as a sedate start soon turned into mayhem with Upul Tharanga unleashing a flurry of boundaries and pacer Ishant Sharma once again bled runs and was carted for 20 runs in an over, a true indication of his snow-diving form. But despite posting a total of 316 to chase under the lights, Virat Kohli (107) and Gautam Gambhir (150 not out) helped the hosts seal the series by seven wickets.

The task was big but with openers Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar were sent back by young Suranga Lakmal with the scorecard reading 23 in the fourth over, the total looked suddenly beyond reach. But Gautam Gambhir  and young Virat Kohli dug in deep to register a famous win for the hosts.
After Upul Tharanga (118) had given Sri Lanka a platform to build towards their eventual total of 315/6, Gambhir and Kohli found boundaries at regular intervals to ensure that the required rate was kept in check.
Adding 224 runs off just 214 balls, the duo all but saw India home with with 11 balls to spare and an unassailable lead.

Kohli, 21,  showed excellent maturity picking the gaps with a sublime Gambhir at the other end.

It was on consecutive balls during a Dilshan over that both reached their tons. After Kohli fell to Randiv holding out at long-on in the 40th over, Gambhir ensured the momentum wasn’t lost. With wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik (19 not out) at the other end, the southpaw ensured the scoreboard kept ticking along as India romped home.
Earlier, while strike bowlers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan did their bit to keep Tillakaratne Dilshan and to a lot extent succeeded in their endeavour. The visitors changed gears when ‘pacer’ Ishant came on and the writing was on the wall. One of the most interesting comments that cricinfo.com put up was — “The opposition teams realise that there is a fourth power play available when Ishant comes to bowl his four overs!”
The lanky pacer will soon become the butt of all jokes at the rate in which he has been bowling (or the lack of it). His seven overs bled 67 runs and the Delhi lad gifted away 12 boundaries.
For the visitors, it was the turn of Upul Tharanga to score a century in the season after his opening partner Dilshan had done the honours twice already in the series. After the Cuttack debacle a few days back, the Lankans realised the importance of cutting down on rash shots and Tharanga scored his seventh century and his first in three years in what was a pleasing effort. He was cleaned up by Zaheer Khan for 118 in the 43rd over of the innings. The damage was done by that time. The visitors posted a total past 300-run mark for the third time in the series and a winning effort this time.
A late onslaught by debutant Thissara Perera who scored 31 off 14 helped skyrocket the total to 315 for 6 in the 50 overs. But, in the end, it just did not matter one bit.