In a stunning display of spin dominance, Sri Lankan bowlers, spearheaded by Dunith Wellalage, dismantled the Indian batting lineup, leading to a comprehensive 110-run victory in the third ODI at Premadasa on Wednesday. This win gave Sri Lanka a 2-0 series triumph over India, with the first match ending in a tie. It marks Sri Lanka’s first bilateral ODI series victory against India since 1997.
Match Summary:
Sri Lanka’s Innings: Sri Lanka, after being put in to bat, scored 248 for 7 in their 50 overs, thanks to solid contributions from Avishka Fernando (96 off 102 balls) and Kusal Mendis (59 off 82 balls). Fernando’s innings featured 9 boundaries and 2 sixes, while Mendis added 4 fours.
Indian Bowling Efforts: India struggled to contain Sri Lanka despite a commendable effort from debutant Riyan Parag, who took 3 wickets for 54 runs. Kuldeep Yadav also contributed with 1 for 36.
Indian Chase: Chasing a target of 249 on a challenging pitch, India collapsed to a dismal 138 all out in just 26.1 overs. Rohit Sharma top-scored with 35 from 20 balls, but the rest of the batting lineup fell apart under the pressure of Sri Lanka’s spin attack. Wellalage’s brilliant spell of 5 for 27 dismantled India’s batting, while Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay also played crucial roles.
Notable Moments:
Rohit Sharma’s Departure: India’s promising start was halted when Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 35, caught behind while attempting a sweep off Wellalage’s bowling.
Spin Dominance: Wellalage’s five-wicket haul and Theekshana’s key breakthroughs led to a string of Indian wickets, including Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Shreyas Iyer, who all fell to spin. India’s batting woes were highlighted by their inability to handle Sri Lanka’s spinners, resulting in seven lbw or bowled dismissals.
Fernando’s Partnerships: Fernando, alongside Pathum Nissanka (45), formed a strong opening stand of 89 runs. He then partnered with Kusal Mendis for 82 runs for the second wicket, providing a solid foundation for Sri Lanka’s innings.
Final Push: After Fernando’s dismissal, Sri Lanka added valuable runs through Kamindu Mendis and a late surge by Kusal Mendis, setting India a challenging target.
The Indian team, led by new head coach Gautam Gambhir, will need to address their issues against spin and look for improvements as they prepare for future challenges.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 248/7 in 50 overs (Pathum Nissanka 45, Avishka Fernando 96, Kusal Mendis 59; Riyan Parag 3/54)
India: 138 in 26.1 overs (Rohit Sharma 35, Washington Sundar 30; Dunith Wellalage 5/27)
