Colombo: Left-arm spin all-rounder Dunith Wellalage spun a vicious web around the Indian batting line-up and took Sri Lanka to a huge 110-run win in the third ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The result also means Sri Lanka got their first bilateral ODI series win over India since August 1997.
After half-centuries by Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis propelled Sri Lanka to reach 248/7, the highest total of this series, the Indian batting line-up was again found wanting in their plans and judgement in playing against spinners. It propelled Wellalage to pick 5-27 as India crumbled yet again to be bowled out for just 138 in 26.1 overs, with only four batters reaching double figures.
Rohit Sharma again provided a flying start to India by thumping six boundaries in the first four overs, five of which came against Maheesh Theekshana. Asitha Fernando got the first breakthrough for Sri Lanka when Shubman Gill tried to break the shackles by stepping out, but missed a skiddy delivery keeping low and saw his off-stump being rattled.
India’s batting implosion began when Rohit went for the slog-sweep but managed to get an outside edge caught by the keeper, giving Wellalage his first wicket. Theekshana joined the wicket-takers list when he enticed Rishabh Pant to come out against a flighted delivery and got it to spin past his bat, with the keeper completing a quick stumping.
Wellalage’s stellar show continued when Virat Kohli came forward to play for spin, but was trapped lbw, making it a hat-trick of dismissals for the batter spinners. He came back to castle Axar Patel with a sharp turning-in delivery and trapped Shreyas Iyer lbw on backfoot, as India burnt all of its reviews.
Earlier, after electing to bat first on a dry pitch, captain Charith Asalanka had wished to see a century coming from any of his batters. Avishka almost fulfilled that wish by making a fluent 96 off 102 balls, laced with nine fours and two sixes. But he fell four runs short of a century to become an impressive Riyan’s first ODI wicket.
When you're playing for India, there's no complacency: RohitColombo: After a 110-run defeat to Sri Lanka in the third ODI and losing the series 2-0, India captain Rohit Sharma brushed aside suggestions that the visitors were complacent in their approach. After the first ODI was tied, India were outplayed by Sri Lanka in the next two matches to lose a bilateral series to the island nation for the first time since August 1997. “No, it's a joke. When you're playing for India, there's no complacency. We have to give credit where it is due, Sri Lanka played better than us,” said Rohit in the post-match presentation ceremony. India lost a whopping 27 wickets to spin in the series against Sri Lanka – nine of their wickets were taken by the slower bowlers in each game of the 50-over series, which further highlights their weakness in playing against spinners. |
