Chasing totals under lights has once again exposed India’s frailties, as they fell short by 110 runs in the third and final One Day International (ODI) match against Sri Lanka. This result not only handed Sri Lanka a 2-0 series victory but also marked their first series win over India in the 50-over format since 1997. It’s a particularly notable achievement for Sri Lanka, coming in the wake of their failure to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
From the moment Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat, the pressure was squarely on India. The host team posted a respectable score of 248, thanks largely to a stellar 96-run innings by Avishka Fernando. India’s track record of failing to chase down targets set at 231 and 241 in the first two ODIs raised doubts about their ability to chase the highest target of the series, especially on a pitch that was dry and abrasive.
India’s run chase got off to a promising start with a blazing display from Rohit Sharma. However, the team suffered a significant setback as Virat Kohli endured another low score, culminating in his worst performance ever in a bilateral series against Sri Lanka. The Indian batting lineup crumbled at an alarming rate, particularly struggling against Sri Lanka’s spinning and skidding deliveries. Within the first 13 overs, India had already lost six wickets.
The standout performer for Sri Lanka was Dunith Wellalage, whose left-arm orthodox spin proved disastrous for India’s batters. Wellalage accounted for four of India’s first six wickets, initiated by dismissing Shubman Gill who was bowled by Asitha Fernando. Wellalage’s dominance continued as he bamboozled Rohit Sharma with an away-spinning delivery on the slog-sweep and then trapped Kohli with an arm-ball. In his next over, he clean-bowled Axar Patel and trapped Shreyas Iyer lbw, highlighting a stunning display of spin bowling. The wicket of Iyer marked India’s 24th loss to spin in the series, the most they have ever recorded in a bilateral ODI series. By the end of the series, India had lost 27 wickets to spin, the highest for any team in a three-match bilateral ODI series.
At 92/6, India’s hopes rested on Shivam Dube and debutant Riyan Parag, who was included to bolster the middle order at the expense of a pacer, Arshdeep Singh. Although Parag made an impact with the ball, taking three wickets, he couldn’t replicate the same success with the bat. He was bowled by Jeffrey Vandersay after misjudging a legbreak. Rishabh Pant, brought in for KL Rahul, also couldn’t make a significant mark, underlining India’s batting struggles.
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Wellalage capped off his exceptional performance by claiming his fifth wicket of the innings, dismissing Kuldeep Yadav. India’s innings folded at 138 runs in just 26.1 overs, with nine wickets falling to spin. Wellalage became the first spinner to claim a five-wicket haul against India on more than one occasion, a remarkable feat.
Sri Lanka’s innings had earlier been propelled by openers Pathum Nissanka and Fernando, who set a solid foundation with a 89-run partnership. Nissanka played the aggressor role early on, striking four boundaries in the first couple of overs bowled by Mohammed Siraj, India’s lone frontline pacer in this game.
The breakthrough for India came when Axar Patel dismissed Nissanka with a top-edged slog-sweep in the 20th over. Fernando continued his strong performance, leading the partnership with an elegant half-century off 65 balls, showing particular adeptness against spinners after a sluggish start against pace bowlers. During Siraj’s second spell, Fernando displayed his aggressive intent by hitting a boundary and two sixes in quick succession. However, his innings ended at 96 when he was deceived by a full legbreak from Parag, handing the debutant his first ODI wicket.
Parag then dismissed Charith Asalanka lbw, triggering a Sri Lankan collapse from 171/1 to 199/6. Contributions from Washington Sundar and Siraj were crucial in reining in the Sri Lankan batting. Parag picked up his third wicket by bowling Wellalage.
Despite the brief middle-order collapse, Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with a 77-ball fifty, ensuring Sri Lanka added a crucial 31 runs in the final three overs. This late flurry helped Sri Lanka reach a formidable total on a challenging pitch.
In the end, the target of 248 proved well beyond India’s reach, cementing a memorable series win for Sri Lanka. This victory also marked back-to-back ODI wins over India for the first time since August 2010, making it a historic moment for Sri Lankan cricket.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 248/7 (Fernando 96, Mendis 59, Nissanka 45; Parag 3-54) beat India 138 in 26.1 overs (Rohit 35; Wellalage 5-27, Vandersay 2-34) by 110 runs.