VISAKHAPATNAM, India (AFP) — Opener Shikhar Dhawan’s blazing century and a decisive spell by their wrist spinners powered India to a series-clinching eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third One-Day nternational yesterday.

Chasing 216 for victory, India rode on a 135-run partnership between Dhawan (100 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (65) to romp home in 32.1 overs in Visakhapatnam.

Dhawan completed his 12th ODI hundred in 85 balls, his knock laced with 13 fours and two sixes, before taking India to their eighth-consecutive ODI series victory since June 2016.

But it was Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal who set up the comprehensive victory after taking three wickets each to help restrict the visitors to 215 all out in 44.5 overs.

“They haven’t bowled much together as bowlers, but whenever they have played, they bowled really well. They put us in the driver’s seat,” India skipper Rohit Sharma said of his spinners.

The left-handed Dhawan, who was named man of the series for his 168 runs in three matches, stayed firm with Dinesh Karthik, who made 26, for company, as India bounced back with two straight wins after losing the opener in Dharamsala.

Earlier Sri Lanka had got off to a strong start with opener Upul Tharanga making a 82-ball 95 after the visitors were invited to bat first.

Tharanga’s 121-ball, second-wicket partnership with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 42, was the highlight of the Sri Lankan innings that fell apart from a commanding 136-1.