In a historic turn of events, Sri Lanka ended their 27-year drought with a commanding 2-0 series win against India in the 50-over format, marking their first series triumph over their neighbors since 1997. The victory was secured with an emphatic 110-run win in the third and final ODI, a significant achievement for the Sri Lankan team, especially after their recent failure to qualify for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
The match began with Sri Lanka winning the toss and electing to bat under the challenging night conditions. Avishka Fernando’s stellar performance, where he scored 96 runs, provided the foundation for Sri Lanka’s total of 248 runs. Fernando showcased a range of shots and a strong command over his composure, unnerving the bowlers right from the start. This effort laid the groundwork for a solid opening stand of 89 runs with Pathum Nissanka, who contributed 45 runs. These contributions were essential in setting up a competitive target on a surface that was notably dry and abrasive.
India, having struggled to chase lower targets of 231 and 241 in the first two ODIs, faced an intimidating challenge this time around. Their difficulties were compounded by the fact that they had already struggled significantly against Sri Lanka’s spinning attack in the prior matches. The pressure was on from the very beginning, with a fiery start by Rohit Sharma making way for a series of setbacks, including Virat Kohli’s dismissal for another low score. Kohli’s performance in this series marked his worst ever against Sri Lanka in a bilateral ODI engagement.
The Indian middle-order crumbled under the pressure, largely undone by the mesmerizing spell of spin bowling from Dunith Wellalage. The young left-arm orthodox spinner ended with impressive figures, claiming five wickets including the vital runs of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Wellalage’s lethal deliveries saw India rapidly losing six wickets within the first 13 overs of their chase, stalling their momentum and hopes of reaching the target. His craft exposed the Indian batsmen’s vulnerability, especially the plaguing weakness to spin, leading to India’s series-high 27 wickets falling to spin across the three matches.
Despite a glimmer of hope with Shivam Dube and debutant Riyan Parag at the crease, the Indian innings continued to unravel. Parag’s debut with the bat was less than memorable, bowled out by Jeffrey Vandersay after misreading a legbreak.
. The inclusion of Rishabh Pant in place of KL Rahul also proved ineffective, as India’s batting lineup failed to withstand the spinning assault.
Wellalage’s final blow came with the wicket of Kuldeep Yadav, rounding off a memorable showing by bowling India out for a dismal 138 in just 26.1 overs. Wellalage thereby became the first spinner to claim a five-wicket haul against India on more than one occasion, further embossing his name in the annals of cricket history.
Sri Lanka’s innings, earlier in the day, witnessed another solid performance not just from the openers, but also from the middle order. After the dismissal of Nissanka by Axar Patel, Fernando continued to assert dominance, particularly impressive in his handling of the spinners post initial slow progress against the pacers. His inning featured timely boundaries and sixes, propelling him towards what seemed to be a certain century before a well-executed delivery from Parag saw him dismissed.
Parag, despite his batting woes, was successful in claiming three wickets total, sparking a brief collapse in the Sri Lankan innings from 171/1 to 199/6. Washington Sundar and Mohammed Siraj capitalized on this, delivering crucial strikes. However, the consistent performance of Kusal Mendis in the final overs once again proved critical to restoring stability to Sri Lanka’s innings. His fifty came off 77 balls, leading to an additional 31 runs in the concluding three overs, establishing a formidable final score.
This resilient performance underlined a key pattern in the series – Sri Lanka’s capacity to find a finisher in the concluding overs. This strength was pivotal through the course of the series and ultimately led to them securing back-to-back ODI wins over India for the first time since August 2010. The remarkable series win not only ended a long-standing drought but reinvigorated the Sri Lankan spirit in 50-over cricket, propelling them forward with newfound confidence.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 248/7 (Fernando 96, Mendis 59, Nissanka 45; Parag 3-54) defeated India 138 in 26.1 overs (Rohit 35; Wellalage 5-27, Vandersay 2-34) by 110 runs.