A command all-round performance, with a little help from Sri Lanka’s generous-minded batsmen, facilitated India's emphatic progress to the finals of the tri-series on Tuesday.

The humdinger two sides desperate to stake their claims for a tilt at Australia were expected to throw up never materialised as the Bellerive Oval threw up the most lop-sided match of the competition. Stuck in by Mahendra Singh Dhoni in extremely overcast conditions, the Lankans carelessly tossed away a promising start. Once they were bowled out for 179 on an excellent batting track, the game was over as a contest; with Sachin Tendulkar rediscovering run-scoring ways, India cantered to 180 for three in the 33rd over for a comprehensive seven-wicket win, picking up a bonus point along the way.

For a second game running, India had many gains to boast. The Delhi duo of Ishant Sharma and Gautam Gambhir warmed up for the best of three finals following continued excellent work with ball and bat respectively, but the star of the day was the unheralded Praveen Kumar, 21, who swings the ball at brisk pace and whose four for 31 fetched him the man of the match award in just his third one-day international.

Big cities

The Meerut lad is the latest example that cricket is no longer the sole domain of the big cities. Another of Uttar Pradesh's many recent contributions to Indian cricket, there is little flashy about Praveen. What there is, is a lot of fire and hunger; once the Lankans helped him smell blood through self-inflicted wounds, Praveen was all over them like a bad rash.

Chosen ahead of Virender Sehwag as Dhoni kept faith in his five-bowler formula against the Sri Lankans, Praveen arrived at the bowling crease with a deliberately careful Sanath Jayasuriya and the free-flowing Kumar Sangakkara in the middle of a threatening partnership. Ishant had produced a peach to clean up Dilruwan Perera early on. The left-handed duo not merely repaired the damage but was just beginning to get on top when Praveen struck the first of his four telling blows.

Sangakkara's batting is based on dominating the bowling, especially in the limited-overs game. Already doing a fair fist of it, he sought to impose himself further on the inexperienced Praveen; walking down the track and giving himself room, he followed the ball as Praveen pitched it wide. The extra bounce too played its part as the ball flew off the outside edge, and Dhoni flew to his left for the first of three consecutive excellent Indian catches.

Incredible collapse

Sangakkara's fall after a 57-run (65b) stand triggered an incredible collapse as Sri Lanka lost six for 21 in 70 deliveries. Batsman after batsman fell playing adventurous stroke, respecting neither the bowling nor the match situation. Rohit Sharma took a low pouch to his right at point to get rid of Mahela Jayawardene, Dhoni took off to his right to snaffle Chamara Silva as his 100th one-day catch, then ran around to short fine to gobble up Jayasuriya's miscued pull. Game over, you sensed then.

Dhoni rung the changes, and most worked like a dream, though Chamara Kapugedera's resilience and the flatness of the track allowed Sri Lanka to get away from 93 for seven. With Lasith Malinga, Kapugedera added 46, then realised 40 with Muttiah Muralitharan. India weren't alarmed; they knew it was a great track to bat on, and they perhaps also knew that Tendulkar was in the mood.

His latest opening partner, Robin Uthappa, didn't get many, but Tendulkar wasn't fazed. There was a distinct touch of positivity to his movements, and his assaults, first on Chaminda Vaas, then Ishara Amerasinghe and eventually Muralitharan were spectacular. Malinga escaped, but only because Tendulkar appeared over-keen to punish him; otherwise, the master was on top of his game, his square play on both sides of the wicket an absolute treat.

Gambhir set about Malinga before holding his horses, happy to soak in the Tendulkar show. The duo milked 102 (110b) when the latter fell caught in the deep. Sri Lanka's misery continued as Yuvraj Singh played a little gem, striking the ball crisply and proving that he had laid the ghosts triggered in the past by Muralitharan to rest.

All tournament long, Murali has failed to make an impression; it was no different on Tuesday as the Indians went after him with a clear method to their apparent madness. Gambhir celebrated 400 tournament runs with another lovely innings, and fittingly brought up the run that catapulted India to the finals. Bring on the Aussies!