Sri Lanka recorded a 110-run win in the final ODI of the three-match series against India on Wednesday (Aug 7) and won the series 2-0.
This is Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win against India in over two decades. They had last won an ODI series against India in back in 1997 – an year after winning their maiden ODI World Cup.
Chasing an above par 249, India were bowled out for 138 in 26.1 overs – in what was another poor batting display by the Rohit Sharma-led team. Dunith Wellalage lead the bowling charge with 5/27.
The visitors had started well in the chase, adding 37 runs in 4.2 overs before Shubman Gill was sent back by Asitha Fernando. skipper Rohit Sharma departed next in the eight over with India at 53.
Rishabh Pant, playing his first match of the series, attempted a shot from outside the crease to Maheesh Theekshana and was stumped out.
India next lost Virat Kohli, Axar Patel and Shreays Iyer inside 20 runs and were 82/6 by the end of 13th over. Debutant Riyan Parag and Shivam Dube then added 18 runs for the seventh wicket and took India to 100-run mark.
Both the batters, however, departed soon after India reached 100 and Sri Lanka were just three wickets away from victory. India needed 148 runs in about 32 overs at that moment.
Washington Sundar played an innings of 30 off 25 balls but could only delay the inevitable and not stop it.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first. SL openers Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka added 89 runs for the first wicket. Axar Patel broke the partnership in the in 20th over by dismissing Nissanka for 45.
The next wicket came 82 runs after in the 36th over when Parag dismissed Fernando four runs short of his century. SL lost a bit of way from there and managed only about 75-odd runs in the last 15 overs to finish at 248/7 in 5 overs.
Parag was the pick of India bowlers with 3/54 in nine overs while Axar, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav took one wicket each.
–Agencies–
