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Having gone wicketless for so long, Kuldeep Yadav gets the remaining wickets to complete a huge win for the Indians. While Fernando starts the over off with an inside-out short towards the extra-cover fence for a four, he departs the very next ball after serving a simple return catch to the bowler. Captain Lasith Malinga walks out to bat, and is the last man dismissed as he gets his stumps rattled while looking for a heave towards the leg side. India are now one step closer to a 5-0 whitewash. Preview: Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be cynosure of all eyes as he gears up for his 300th ODI with a marauding India ready to tighten the noose around beleaguered Sri Lanka in the penultimate encounter of the five-match series, in Colombo on Thursday. And there is a good opportunity for the former India captain to come up with a memorable performance in his milestone match since Sri Lanka have hardly come aross as respectable rivals in the lop-sided series. Considered one of the greatest finishers in 50-over cricket, Dhoni will join India’s elite ‘Club 300’, which has Sachin Tendulkar (463), Rahul Dravid (344), Mohammed Azharuddin (334), Sourav Ganguly (311) and Yuvraj Singh (304). [caption id=“attachment_3991225” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Lasith Malinga and Virat Kohli, the two captains. Reuters[/caption] Dhoni should be in fine fettle after playing a significant role in bailing out the team in back-to-back tricky chases against the hosts, slowly falling apart. The unbeaten knocks of 45 and 67 under pressure is a proof that he is still not finished and his eyes are firmly set on the 50-over World Cup of 2019. From being a world class finisher to playing a second fiddle to Rohit Sharmas and Bhuvneshwar Kumars, Dhoni has added another dimension to his game. Although one can’t dismiss the fact that a rag-tag Sri Lankan bowling attack, save mystery spinner Akila Dananjaya, has failed to keep up the pressure on Dhoni and Co. after making initial inroads. The series already sealed with an unassailable 3-0 lead, Virat Kohli’s next aim would be to give a chance to players who have only warmed the benches so far such as Kuldeep Yadav, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur. Kohli himself had a couple of low scoring games and he would look to get back to scoring some more runs along with KL Rahul, who has not exactly looked comfortable in an unfamiliar No. 4 position. The only man who would feel a bit of pressure is Kedar Jadhav after successive ducks. More than the two blobs, what will bother the Jadhav is the fact that he is unable to read Dananjaya’s deliveries. In the first match, he was fooled by a googly and in the second match, he misread the length, trying to go for a sweep shot. It will be interesting if the team management decides to give Pandey a go instead of Jadhav. The only thing that can save him is his flat off-breaks, which gives Kohli an additional bowling option. Jadhav has picked three wickets in the series so far. Pacer Thakur has looked sharp in the nets but Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah have only played three matches and would not like to take rest. The India captain has already hinted that he wants to rotate players and chinaman Kuldeep may get a look-in. In that case, either Yuzvendra Chahal or Axar Patel will make way. While India have some ‘happy problems’ to deal with, Sri Lanka are in deep trouble, trying to field a potent first XI. To begin with, the selection committee headed by Sanath Jayasuriya has resigned. Sri Lanka Cricket has accepted their resignation. However, they will continue to hold office until the end of this series but there will be intense spotlight on their selection decisions as has been the case for a while now. Lack of consistency has been a key element of this Jayasuriya-led committee’s selection process. They have picked 40 players in ODIs in the past year alone, and the same merry-go-round can be foreseen ahead of this fourth match as well. Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the series with a hairline fracture on his right thumb after enduring a hit in the previous ODI. To add to their headache, stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedara has been ruled out of the remainder of the series as well, owing to an aggravated back injury (he received medical attention whilst batting during the third ODI). Lasith Malinga will lead the side in the fourth ODI, with suspended captain Upul Tharanga expected to handle the reins in the final ODI on September 3 as well as the solitary T20I on September 6. Dhananjaya de Silva and Dilshan Munaweera have been added to the squad as covers. They also have Thisara Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga on the bench. Whether the back-to-the-wall, volatile situation inspires a fightback remains to be seen though. Teams: India: Virat Kohli (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shardul Thakur. Sri Lanka: Lasith Malinga (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Dilshan Munaweera, Lahiru Thirimanna, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Malinda Pushpakumara, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Upul Tharanga (for fifth ODI). With inputs from PTI
Highlights India vs Sri Lanka, 4th ODI in Colombo, cricket score: Virat Kohli and Co win by 168 runs; gain 4-0 series lead
Having gone wicketless for so long, Kuldeep Yadav gets the remaining wickets to complete a huge win for the Indians. While Fernando starts the over off with an inside-out short towards the extra-cover fence for a four, he departs the very next ball after serving a simple return catch to the bowler. Captain Lasith Malinga walks out to bat, and is the last man dismissed as he gets his stumps rattled while looking for a heave towards the leg side. India are now one step closer to a 5-0 whitewash.
 "Highlights India vs Sri Lanka, 4th ODI in Colombo, cricket score: Virat Kohli and Co win by 168 runs; gain 4-0 series lead")
Sri Lanka’s performances in the ongoing series seem to be getting worse with each passing match. The fourth one-dayer saw them suffer their heaviest defeat on home soil, with the hosts never being offered a chance barring the early wicket of Dhawan and the mini-collapse after Virat Kohli’s dismissal. They are not helped by the spate of injuries to key players and the two-match suspension on Upul Tharanga, and there is little to stop them from suffering a 5-0 whitewash now.
We return with our coverage of the ongoing series on Sunday, when India take on Sri Lanka in the final match of the ODI series. For now, it is time for us to bid you goodbye.
After 42.4 overs,Sri Lanka 207/10 ( Akila Dananjaya 11 , )
Having gone wicketless for so long, Kuldeep Yadav gets the remaining wickets to complete a huge win for the Indians. While Fernando starts the over off with an inside-out short towards the extra-cover fence for a four, he departs the very next ball after serving a simple return catch to the bowler. Captain Lasith Malinga walks out to bat, and is the last man dismissed as he gets his stumps rattled while looking for a heave towards the leg side. India are now one step closer to a 5-0 whitewash.
Biggest home defeat for Sri Lanka in ODIs: (By runs)
168 v India, Colombo(RPS), 2017*
147 v India, Colombo(RPS), 2009
146 v Pakistan, Colombo(RPS), 2009
Most wins from career’s first 34 ODIs as a captain
28 – Viv Richards
27 – Ricky Ponting
26 – Clive Lloyd, VIRAT KOHLI*
Largest wins for India in Sri Lanka in ODIs: (By runs)
168 v Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) in 2017
147 v Sri Lanka at Colombo (RPS) in 2009
116 v U.A.E. at Dambulla in 2004
BOWLED! That’s it! Kuldeep rattles Malinga’s stumps, as India complete an emphatic 168-run win to go 4-0 in the series! SL 207 all out
Malinga b Kuldeep 0(1)
OUT! First wicket for Kuldeep, as Fernando hits the third delivery of the 43rd over straight to the bowler! SL 207/9
Fernando c and b Kuldeep 5(4)
After 42 overs,Sri Lanka 203/8 ( Akila Dananjaya 11 , Vishwa Fernando 1)
Dananjaya collects a single at the start of Bumrah’s seventh over. Pushpakumara departs the very next ball, ramping a short ball straight to Pandya at third man. Dananjaya smacks the penultimate delivery down the ground to collect his first boundary. Eight off the over.
Sri Lanka need 173 to win from 48 balls.
OUT! Pushpakumara ramps a short ball from Bumrah towards third man, except he guides it straight down Pandya’s throat! SL 196/8
Pushpakumara c Pandya b Bumrah 3(18)
After 41 overs,Sri Lanka 195/7 ( Akila Dananjaya 4 , Malinda Pushpakumara 3)
Kuldeep bowls the first over of the final powerplay of the Sri Lankan innings. Pushpakumara drives towards the off side in the last ball of the over, collecting two off it. Three off the over.
Sri Lanka need 181 to win from 54 balls.
After 40 overs,Sri Lanka 192/7 ( Akila Dananjaya 3 , Malinda Pushpakumara 1)
Bumrah bowls the 40th over, appealing for an lbw in the second ball of the over, though the umpire doesn’t seem interested as the ball appeared to be going down the leg side. Just a single collected off the over.
Sri Lanka need 184 to win from 60 balls
After 39 overs,Sri Lanka 191/7 ( Akila Dananjaya 2 , Malinda Pushpakumara 1)
Kuldeep Yadav returns to the attack. Dananjaya nearly gets run out after running halfway down the crease before being sent back by Pushpakumara, with a fumble by Kuldeep at the non-striker’s end sparing him. Turns out to be the first maiden for the chinaman bowler.
After 38 overs,Sri Lanka 191/7 ( Akila Dananjaya 2 , Malinda Pushpakumara 1)
Mathews swats the first ball of Axar’s final over towards the backward square-leg. He pays the price for his overambitiousness by sacrificing his wicket next ball, lobbing the ball over to short third man after getting a thick bottom edge. Five off the over, with new batsman Pushpakumara getting off the mark with a single in the third delivery that he faces. Axar signs off with figures of 1/55.
OUT! Mathews’ resistance finally comes to an end, as Mathews gets a thick bottom edge off a full delivery from Axar outside off, ballooning the ball up towards short third man, where Thakur latches on to a simple catch. Finally, a wicket for Axar, who gets it in his final over of the day. SL 190/7
Mathews c Thakur b Axar 70 (80)
After 37 overs,Sri Lanka 186/6 ( Angelo Mathews 66 , Akila Dananjaya 2)
Pandya starts his eighth over off with a wide, straying down the off side on the occasion. Mathews lofts towards deep extra-cover two balls later to collect a double. Four off the over.
After 36 overs,Sri Lanka 183/6 ( Angelo Mathews 63 , Akila Dananjaya 2)
Axar continues from the other end, bowling his ninth over. Just two runs off the over, with Mathews now batting in the 60s. From the look of it, Mathews appears set for another lone battle today.
After 35 overs,Sri Lanka 180/6 ( Angelo Mathews 62 , Akila Dananjaya 1)
Dananjaya gets off the mark with a single in the third delivery of the 35th over, bowled by Pandya. Mathews guides the fifth delivery towards the leg side, and takes the risk of running back for a second. Three off the over.
After 34 overs,Sri Lanka 177/6 ( Angelo Mathews 60 , )
A dot, a four and a six. That’s how Hasaranga fares in the first three deliveries of Axar’s eighth over as he looks to take the attack to the Indians. Mathews slog sweeps the fifth delivery towards the midwicket region, before a confusion between the two batsmen results in Hasaranga being sent back to the non-striker’s end, and falling short of his crease at the time of Axar breaking the stumps. 15 runs and a wicket in what turns out to quite an eventful over.
OUT! Way to end the budding partnership, as confusion between Mathews and Hasaranga results in the latter falling short of his crease at the non-striker’s end after stepping a few yards outside his crease. SL 177/6
Hasaranga run out (Bumrah) 22(22)
After 33 overs,Sri Lanka 162/5 ( Angelo Mathews 56 , Wanidu Hasaranga 11)
Thakur continues from the Maligawatta End. After four dots, Mathews a short ball towards long-leg to collect a single. The umpire signals the second drinks break of the innings after this over. The hosts are in a relatively better position at the moment, having added 94 runs for the departure of Siriwadana since the loss of their fourth wicket, when the hosts had just 68 on board.
Angelo Mathews is such a high quality player. Surprised he hasn't plundered runs in Tests & ODIs despite good starts. This could be his day
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 31, 2017
After 32 overs,Sri Lanka 160/5 ( Angelo Mathews 55 , Wanidu Hasaranga 10)
Axar continues from the other end. Hasaranga slog-sweeps the first ball of the over towards the midwicket boundary. Two singles collected in the remainder of the over, with Hasaranga moving to double figures in the process.
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