At Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo, August 28. Australia won by 41 runs. Toss: India. India went down to their third successive defeat. With the injured Tendulkar forced to drop out, their regular wicket-keeper, Mannava Prasad, handed the gloves to Dravid so that they could bolster the batting by introducing Ramesh and Kambli. Ramesh, who needed a runner in the later stages, added 123 in 28 overs with Robin Singh – but only after McGrath and Gillespie had reduced India to 44 for five. Gilchrist had responded eagerly to India's invitation to bat, hitting 77 from 84 balls, including nine fours, and Australia's total was built on his second-wicket partnership of 110 in 20 overs with Symonds. India had only 49 overs to chase 253, after being penalised one for their own slow over-rate.

Man of the Match: A. C. Gilchrist.

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