Sri Lanka’s attempt to clinch their first One Day International (ODI) series victory over India in nearly thirty years remains on track. The team set a challenging target of 249, thanks to the standout performance of Avishka Fernando, who scored 96 runs. The stage is now set for India to face a tough chase on yet another dry surface at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This series has so far seen India failing to chase targets of 231 and 241 in the first two ODIs, respectively.
Opting to bat first for the third consecutive game, the Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando provided a solid foundation with an 89-run partnership. Nissanka started aggressively, hitting four boundaries in the initial overs delivered by Mohammed Siraj, who was India’s solitary pacer in this match. India had dropped Arshdeep Singh and introduced Riyan Parag, making his ODI debut, to bolster their middle-order batting, following two consecutive collapses in earlier matches. Additionally, Rishabh Pant replaced KL Rahul in the playing eleven, another strategic change by the visiting team.
The breakthrough for India came in the 20th over through Axar Patel, who dismissed Nissanka with a top-edged slog-sweep. However, this did little to slow down the hosts, as Fernando continued the assault, forming another crucial partnership. Fernando, after a slow start against the pacers, became the anchor, scoring an attractive half-century off 65 balls. His proficiency against the spinners was noteworthy and compensated for his initial sluggishness. When Mohammed Siraj returned for his second spell, Fernando capitalized on the opportunity, striking a boundary and two sixes in quick succession.
Fernando appeared set for a well-deserved century, but his innings came to an end when he played back to a full legbreak from debutant Riyan Parag, giving Parag his first ODI wicket.
. Parag further solidified his impact by claiming the wicket of Charith Asalanka (lbw), instigating a collapse that saw Sri Lanka crumbling from a comfortable 171/1 to 199/6. Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj also contributed with key wickets, providing India with a much-needed foothold in the game. Parag eventually finished with three wickets, his third victim being Dunith Wellalage, whom he bowled out, helping India to regain dominance in the latter half of the middle overs.
Despite this collapse, Sri Lanka managed to find a hero in Kusal Mendis during the final overs. Mendis played a pivotal role, scoring a steady fifty off 77 balls, which provided the impetus needed for Sri Lanka to add 31 runs in the last three overs of the innings. This late surge propelled Sri Lanka to a strong total of 248/7 on a challenging pitch, reminiscent of the team’s performance in the first two ODIs where they managed to post competitive scores.
Sri Lanka’s determined batting performance has put them in a strong position as they seek their first ODI series victory against India since the mid-1990s. The team’s resilience, especially during the closing overs, showcased their intent and fighting spirit. The Indian bowlers, despite an improved middle-over performance, struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen in the death overs, a recurring issue throughout the series.
India now faces the task of chasing down 249, a challenge intensified by their previous failures to chase similar totals in the earlier matches. The Indian batting lineup, bolstered by the inclusion of Rishabh Pant, will need to address their shortcomings and perform cohesively to avoid a series defeat. The strategic changes, including the introduction of Riyan Parag, provided mixed results, and it will be crucial for their middle-order to contribute effectively.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 248/7 (Fernando 96, Mendis 59, Nissanka 45; Parag 3-54) vs India. The cricketing world now waits with bated breath as India gears up for the chase, with the pressure mounting on their batsmen to deliver and keep the series alive.