KARACHI, July 3: Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s Indians will have just one objective in mind when they launch the run chase against Sri Lanka in the penultimate match of the Asia Cup Super Four stage at the National Stadium later on Thursday; win at any cost and qualify for the final.

Pakistan, on the other hand, will be praying for a Sri Lankan victory in order to make the final on Sunday. But a win for India would not only seal Pakistan’s fate, it will also leave the hosts playing just for pride in Friday’s last Super Four round game against Bangladesh.

Sri Lanka, after electing to bat first at the toss, managed to post 308-8 only after some late hitting from tailender Thilan Thushara, who took his team past the 300 mark in the final over with a flat-bat six off Irfan Pathan over long-on.

The bulk of runs, however, came from the bats of seasoned campaigner Sanath Jayasuriya, captain Mahela Jayawardene, Chamara Kapugedera and Chamara Silva on yet another featherbed of a pitch.

The defending champions suffered an early blow when the in-form Kumar Sangakkara edged a catch to Dhoni behind the stumps in the fourth over as he attempted to hook fast bowler Ishant Sharma who was given the new ball for the first time in this tournament.

Jayasuriya, who got a reprieve when just four as Yuvraj Singh failed to hold a difficult chance off Sharma, alongwith Jayawardene put on 55 off just 42 balls with the veteran left-hander dominating the partnership with customary array of pulls and cuts.

But just when it appeared that Jayasuriya would repeat his magnificent century feat against Pakistan four days ago, he was caught behind down the leg side off his gloves as he shaped to hook Sharma in the 12th over. South African umpire Brian Jerling, however, took sometime before declaring Jayasuriya out.

Kapugedera then joined Jayawardene in the biggest partnership of the innings, the pair putting on 78 for the third wicket in 89 balls before the Sri Lankan skipper yet again failed to get a substantial knock under his belt.

Soon after completing his 46th half-century in 277 One-day Internationals, Jayawardene (50 off 63 balls, four boundaries) took a couple of steps down the pitch and lofted slow left-armer Pragyan Ojha straight down Gautam Gambhir’s throat at long-off. The Lankan skipper hasn’t scored a one-day ton since he made 107 for the Asia XI in the Afro-Asia Cup at Chennai on June 10, 2007.

Kapugedera, however, blossomed in the company of Silva and heaved Virender Sehwag over midwicket for the first six of the game in the 32nd over. The stand was worth 68 in 11 overs before Praveen Kumar won a leg-before-wicket verdict against Kapugedera. Kapugedera’s 78-ball 75 — the 21-year-old right-hander’s fifth ODI half-century — included seven fours besides a six.

Silva was run out for a fine 50 as he failed to beat an R.P. Singh throw from the deep while trying a risky second run. Silva slammed a brace of boundaries and one six in his 56-ball knock.

Kaushalya Weeraratne and Thushara boosted the total with 23 apiece at the death to leave India facing a competitive chase.

R.P. Singh was the most economical bowler, but Pathan’s 100th One-day International appearance was disappointing with the left-arm seamer conceding eight an over in his ten overs.

Both teams opted to make two changes in their respective XIs. Out went Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla from the side that was beaten by Pakistan the previous night. The pair made way for R.P. Singh and spinner Ojha. Sri Lanka also decided to rest veteran Chaminda Vaas and the tournament’s highest wicket-taker Ajantha Mendis, bringing in Weeraratne and Dilhara Fernando.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

S.T. Jayasuriya c Dhoni b I. Sharma 43

K.C. Sangakkara c Dhoni b I. Sharma 7

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Gambhir b Ojha 50

C.K. Kapugedera lbw b Kumar 75

L.P.C. Silva run out 50

T.M. Dilshan c R.P. Singh b Pathan 15

K. Weeraratne c Gambhir b R.P. Singh 23

T. Thushara run out 23

K.M.D.N. Kulasekara not out 6

M. Muralitharan not out 1

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-11, W-3) 15

TOTAL (for eight wkts, 50 overs) 308

FALL OF WKTS: 1-16, 2-71, 3-149, 4-217, 5-245, 6-263, 7-287, 8-307.

DID NOT BAT: C.R.D. Fernando.

BOWLING: R.P. Singh 10-1-44-1; I. Sharma 10-0-55-2 (1w); Pathan 10-0-80-1; Kumar 6-0-36-1 (1w); Ojha 10-0-55-1; Sehwag 3-0-22-0 (1w); R.G. Sharma 1-0-4-0.

INDIA: G. Gambhir, V. Sehwag, S.K. Raina, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, R.G. Sharma, I.K. Pathan, P. Kumar, R.P. Singh, P.P. Ojha, I. Sharma.

UMPIRES: B.G. Jerling (South Africa) and S.J.A. Taufel (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: Zameer Haider (Pakistan).

MATCH REFEREE: A.G. Hurst (Australia).