COLOMBO, Jan 31: Yuvraj Singh smashed a half-century to help India post a competitive 256-9 in the second One-day International against Sri Lanka here on Saturday.

The middle-order batsman made an impressive 66 for his 38th half-century after his side had lost three wickets for 83 runs. He steadied the innings with an 85-run stand for the fourth wicket with Suresh Raina (29).

Yuvraj hit one six and seven fours in his 88-ball knock before falling to a dubious decision, adjudged leg-before by Sri Lankan umpire Gamini Silva off paceman Nuwan Kulasekara. The TV replays suggested the batsman had inside-edged the delivery on to his pads.

India managed just 46 in the closing 10 overs as seamer Farveez Maharoof (2-40) and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan did not allow the batsmen to score freely with their disciplined bowling in the day/night match.

Record-seeking Muralitharan went wicketless but conceded only 32 in his 10 tight overs. He is still two wickets short of surpassing former Pakistan paceman Wasim Akram’s world record of 502.

India got off to a brisk start after winning the toss as they raced to 83 off 12.2 overs but lost three big wickets in the process.

Virender Sehwag (42) and Gautam Gambhir (27) punished Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowlers with their bold strokeplay after the third-over dismissal of Sachin Tendulkar (six), trapped leg-before by Kulasekara.

Kulasekara was replaced by seamer Maharoof after conceding 42 in his opening six overs. The seamer struck instantly, having Gambhir caught behind with his third delivery.

Sehwag’s flourish ended when he was caught short of the crease while going for a third run. He hit seven fours in his 26-ball knock.

Yuvraj applied himself remarkably well, scoring comfortably against both pace and spin. He hit the match’s first six when he hoisted unorthodox spinner Ajantha Mendis over long-off.

He reached his half-century in style, driving Muralitharan through the covers for a four.

India lead the five-match series 1-0 following their six-wicket victory in the opening game in Dambulla on Wednesday.

Scoreboard

INDIA:

V. Sehwag run out 42

S.R. Tendulkar lbw b Kulasekara 6

G. Gambhir c S’kkara b Maharoof 27

Yuvraj Singh lbw b Kulasekara 66

S.K. Raina c Kapugedera b Dilshan 29

M.S. Dhoni c S’kkara b Maharoof 23

Y. Pathan run out 21

Zaheer Khan c Dilshan b Mendis 17

P. Kumar c Jayawardene b Mendis 15

P.P. Ojha not out 0

EXTRAS (B-1, W-8, NB-1) 10

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 256

FALL OF WKTS: 1-13, 2-62, 3-83, 4-168, 5-180, 6-219, 7-223, 8-256, 9-256.

DID NOT BAT: I. Sharma.

BOWLING: Kulasekara 9-0-61-2 (1nb, 2w); Thushara 8-0-59-0 (1w); Maharoof 10-0-40-2 (3w); Mendis 10-0-44-2 (2w); Muralitharan 10-1-32-0; Dilshan 3-0-19-1.

SRI LANKA: T.M. Dilshan, S.T. Jayasuriya, K.C. Sangakkara, S.H.T. Kandamby D.P.M.D. Jayawardene, C.K. Kapugedera, M.F. Maharoof, T. Thushara K.M.D.N. Kulasekara M. Muralitharan, B.A.W. Mendis.

UMPIRES: M.G. Silva (Sri Lanka) and B.G. Jerling (South Africa). TV UMPIRE: H.D.P.K. Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: B.C. Broad (England).—AFP