Sri Lanka is on the verge of clinching their first ODI series victory against India in almost three decades, thanks to a commendable display from their top-order batsmen which has set a challenging target of 249 for the visitors. The standout performance came from Avishka Fernando, whose robust innings of 96 runs laid a solid foundation for the hosts on a historically dry surface at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Notably, the Indian side has already struggled with chasing targets of 231 and 241 in the previous two One Day Internationals of the series.
Opting to bat first for the third consecutive game, Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando provided a resilient start with an 89-run partnership. Nissanka took the charge initially, aggressively hitting four boundaries within the first few overs bowled by Mohammed Siraj. Siraj was India’s lone pacer in this match as Arshdeep Singh was dropped to make way for debutant Riyan Parag, a move aimed at strengthening India’s middle-order batting lineup after their recent collapses. The visitors also made a key change by bringing in Rishabh Pant in place of KL Rahul.
Axar Patel managed to break the opening stand in the 20th over by dismissing Nissanka, who top-edged a slog-sweep. Despite the setback, Fernando continued his single-minded approach and crafted an impressive half-century off 65 balls. Fernando’s distinct playing style against the spinners was crucial, especially after facing an initial slow start against the pacers. As Siraj returned for his second spell, Fernando unleashed a calculated assault, hitting a boundary and a couple of sixes in the span of five balls. However, his promising innings ended when he played back to a full leg-break delivery from Riyan Parag, who marked his debut by claiming his first ODI wicket.
Parag also sent Charith Asalanka back to the pavilion with an lbw decision that sparked a Sri Lankan middle-order collapse. They tumbled from a comfortable 171 for 1 to 199 for 6 as Washington Sundar and Siraj contributed crucial dismissals. Riyan Parag completed his spell with remarkable figures, taking three wickets in total, including that of Dunith Wellalage who was bowled out. This period of play allowed India to regain control of the match during the middle overs.
Despite the mid-innings wobble, Sri Lanka found resilience in Kusal Mendis, who rose to the occasion in the crucial final overs.
. By the time the innings wrapped up, Mendis had reached his fifty off 77 balls. His composed and strategic batting enabled Sri Lanka to accumulate 31 runs in the final three overs, pushing the total to a competitive 248 for 7. This late surge mirrored the script of the previous ODIs where Sri Lanka managed to find key contributors in the death overs to bolster their totals on challenging pitches.
The evening started optimistically for Sri Lanka with Nissanka’s aggressive start setting the tempo early on. However, after his dismissal, it was Fernando who took the baton, displaying a mixture of finesse and power. Fernando’s handling of spin was particularly noteworthy, helping Sri Lanka navigate through the overs where spinners usually dominate. With impending pressure from the Indian bowlers, Fernando’s fireworks against Siraj marked a pivotal phase in the innings.
Following Fernando’s dismissal, Sri Lanka’s innings saw a marked dip in momentum, and the Indian bowlers took advantage of this. Parag’s performance, especially his wicket-taking ability, shifted the game’s dynamics and reaffirmed the selectors’ decision to debut him in this crucial match. Sundar and Siraj’s spells further harnessed control as India eyed restricting Sri Lanka to a subpar total.
Yet, Kusal Mendis ensured that the effort of the top-order did not go in vain. His calculated innings, rich in experience and composure, rallied the tail-enders and amassed invaluable runs that could very well decide the outcome of the game. Mendis’ effort not only anchored the innings but also provided the late flourish that elevated Sri Lanka’s total, making it a formidable target for the Indian batting lineup.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 248/7 (Fernando 96, Mendis 59, Nissanka 45; Parag 3-54) vs India.
As the action shifts to India’s chase, the pressure mounts on the visitors who need to display impeccable batting discipline to overcome this target. The Sri Lankan bowlers, energized by the solid performance from their batsmen, will aim to maintain the upper hand and script a historic series win.