Sri Lanka scripted history, outclassing India by 110 runs in the third and final ODI at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. The Charith Asalanka-led side clinched the series 2-0, achieving their first ODI series victory against India since 1997.
Speaking of the game, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first. Their decision proved fruitful as openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando blazed all the guns from the start of their innings. However, Axar Patel made an initial impact for India, dismissing Nissanka for 45, breaking their 89-run opening partnership.
Meanwhile, debutant Riyan Parag, was the second one to provide a breakthrough, sending back Fernando just four runs short of a century. However, wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis played a significant knock of 59 runs, allowing Sri Lanka to post a reasonable score of 248 runs. Parag emerged as the standout bowler for India, finishing with excellent figures of 3/54 in his nine-over spell.
In response, India got off to a decent start with captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill opening the innings. However, the Men in Blue’s batting woes in this series continued with Gill falling to Asitha Fernando for just six runs in the fifth over. Rohit, who had scored impressive half-centuries in the first two ODIs, failed to replicate his performance this time. He could score only 35 runs when Mendis took a sharp catch behind the stumps off a delivery from Dunith Wellalage.
Wellalage went on to showcase his prowess, picking up four more wickets. The Sri Lankan bowlers dismantled India’s batting lineup as they restricted them to 138 runs in just 26.1 overs to secure a famous victory. Jeffrey Vandersay, Sri Lanka’s hero in the second ODI, claimed two wickets for 34 runs in five overs. Meanwhile, Maheesh Theekshana also contributed significantly, picking up two wickets.
