Colombo: CHIEF of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar sent out an emphatic message last night from the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to the cricket-loving public of India: "Never should this triumph be underestimated in the history pages of one-day cricket."

India beat Sri Lanka by 46 runs in the fourth game of the five-match one-day series to reduce Friday's final tie to a game of academic interest. "This is outstanding stuff. To beat Sri Lanka at home is quite tough and we did it so splendidly," remarked Vengsarkar.

This was India's first bilateral one-day series win in the Emerald Isles. They beat the hosts to win the four-nation Singer World Series in 1994 and the 1998 Akai-Nidahas Trophy triangular in 1998.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni achieved his second important ODI win abroad after winning the CB Series triangular in Australia earlier in the year.

Dhoni's magic

"Dhoni played two knocks in this tournament which should never be forgotten. He showed everyone how (spin demon) Ajantha Mendis has to be tackled."

Vengsarkar has no hesitation in saying that Dhoni's decision to rest and skip the Test series paid off. "The break helped… absolutely. He was very clear in his thinking and led superbly."

Like everyone, Vengsarkar expected India to score more than 258. "I was not happy when Raina was dismissed. I told him the previous day that with the kind of form he is in, he should be getting a hundred.

In fact, he should have got 130 today," he said, admitting that his team were 20 runs short before the bowlers squashed India's fears.

Big win: Indians celebrate the series win after the victory in the fourth ODI against Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. PIC/AP