India impress against hosts

India beat Sri Lanka by 26 runs to seal a confidence-boosting 26-run win in Saturday's ICC World Twenty20 warm-up match played at the P Sara Oval in Colombo.

Batting first, India made 146-5 after a top-order wobble and then bowled Sri Lanka out for 120.

India's only setback came when Gautam Gambhir suffered a blow to the right hand off a Lasith Malinga delivery and had to retire hurt. The left-hander later underwent x-rays, but nothing serious was detected.

It was all Sri Lanka at the start when India sank to 51-4 by the ninth over, with Nuwan Kulasekara sending back Suresh Raina (12) and Virender Sehwag (12), while Angelo Mathews accounted for Virat Kohli (8) and Rangana Herath had Yuvraj Singh (11) stumped by Kumar Sangakkara.

The innings took flight courtesy of determined batting efforts from Rohit Sharma, who hit four fours and a six in a 26-ball 37, and captain MS Dhoni, who was superb in an unbeaten 55 from 42 balls, studded with four fours and three sixes.

The Sri Lanka reply never really took off with Irfan Pathan and L Balaji running amok. Irfan returned figures of 5-25 while Balaji bowled his 3.3 overs for 3-28.

A number of the Lankan batsmen got starts, with Sangakkara scoring 32 from 32 balls, Lahiru Thirimanne scoring 24 from 27 and Jeevan Mendis getting his 26 runs from 22 balls. But as those numbers prove, scoring runs was tough. And with wickets falling regularly, Sri Lanka eventually folded for 120 in 19.3 overs.

This was Sri Lanka's last warm-up match, while India will play Pakistan in their final warm-up game on Monday (September 17).