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In a stunning upset, Sri Lanka defeated India by a comprehensive margin of 110 runs in the final ODI, securing a historic series victory on August 7 at the R Premadasa stadium.
Sri Lanka Clinches Historic Series Win Over India
Batting first, Sri Lanka amassed a respectable total of 248 runs, with Avishka Fernando's brilliant 96-run knock being the cornerstone of their innings.
India's batting order crumbled under pressure, as they were bundled out for a mere 138 runs. Dunith Wellalage (5/27) delivered a match-winning performance with the ball, claiming five wickets and dismantling the Indian batting lineup. Sri Lanka's victory marked their first bilateral ODI series win over India since 1997. India's chase began promisingly as captain Rohit Sharma launched a blistering attack on the Sri Lankan bowlers. He shared a rapid 37-run opening stand with Shubman Gill.
India's batting Collapse
While Rohit Sharma (45 off 30) continued his aggressive form, Shubman Gill (6 off 14) struggled once again, falling cheaply to Asitha Fernando. Soon after, Rohit's innings was cut short by a catch to Kusal Mendis. The dismissal of the Indian captain triggered a dramatic collapse. Rishabh Pant (6 off 9), who had a disappointing day behind the stumps, was out stumped in a reckless attempt. Virat Kohli's (20 off 18) struggles continued as he was lbw for the third consecutive time in the series. Sri Lanka's spinners exploited the Indian batting woes, bowling them out for a paltry 138 runs.
India Restrict Sri Lanka to 248
Earlier, debutant Riyan Parag's impressive off-spin bowling played a crucial role in restricting Sri Lanka to a manageable total of 248 runs in the third and final ODI. The hosts, led by Avishka Fernando's well-paced 96 and Kusal Mendis's determined 50, looked set for a larger score. However, Parag's skillful bowling triggered a collapse in the Sri Lankan middle order. The pitch offered less assistance to the bowlers compared to the previous matches, but Parag's variations proved effective. Fernando's contributions were instrumental in building substantial partnerships with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Despite the team's overall performance, Fernando's batting stood out as a positive for Sri Lanka.
Nissanka's aggressive start
Pathum Nissanka complemented Avishka Fernando's aggressive batting with his own power-hitting, including two sixes off Axar Patel. However, his innings was cut short when he mistimed a shot to Rishabh Pant, who was making his ODI comeback after a serious car accident.
The partnership between Fernando and Kusal Mendis propelled Sri Lanka ahead, with Fernando taking on the role of the dominant batter. He capitalized on Mohammed Siraj's inconsistent line and length, hitting several powerful pull shots for six. Fernando also displayed finesse with a delicate flick for a boundary. Unfortunately for Fernando, he fell short of his fourth ODI century when he was trapped in front by Riyan Parag's leg-break.
With a strong foundation of 171 runs for the loss of two wickets after 36 overs, Sri Lanka was well-positioned to target a score in the range of 280 or higher. However, Riyan Parag's double strike, dismissing Charith Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage, disrupted the momentum. Parag's dismissal of Wellalage, who had been a constant threat to India, was particularly impressive. Sri Lanka's decline continued with the loss of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Janith Liyanage, leaving them at 199 for six. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis added a valuable partnership to push the total closer to 250.
Meanwhile, following the series defeat, India will now shift their focus to the upcoming Bangladesh tour, which includes two Test matches and three T20 Internationals starting on September 19.
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