SL vs IND | 3rd ODI: Avishka Fernando, spinners stop India's juggernaut, salvage Sri Lanka's pride

Sri Lanka finally broke the shackles of dismal performances and wasting opportunities and won the third and final ODI of the series against India by three wickets. The series, however, was already won by India in the last game.

Chasing a middling score of 226 runs from a 47-over long innings, Sri Lanka were off to a decent start as Avishka Fernando once again showed his potential with the bat. Minod Bhnauka looked under pressure and perished in the process of trying to break free.

The match-winning partnership came between Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa, as the duo put a magnificent 109 runs partnership to show Sri Lanka hope of consolation in the series. However, just when things started to go beyond India’s grasp, debutant Chetan Sakariya employed all his guile and deception to bring them back into the game. He first dismissed Rajapaksa and then dismissed Dhanajaya de Silva with a beauty of a slower ball that kicked off from a length.

Sri Lanka’s batting effort was then stabilised by Charith Asalanka, who too like Fernando has proved his mettle with the bat in the series. 

Another debutant Rahul Chahar broke through twice in the late phase of the game to keep India in the hunt but a defiant Fernando at one end did not let India enforce a capitulation of Sri Lanka’s batting order.

The bowling from the Indians was not under par but the batsmen left a lot to be covered with their inept stroke play in the first half of the game.

After the early departure of the skipper Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw and Snaju Samson, who finally made his ODI debut after missing out on the first two ODIs, played delightful strokes. Samson, in particular, was sublime in his timing through the off side as inside out drives over cover were a frequent sight. 

However, none of them could convert their starts into substantial scores and both will feel dejected having ended the series without a three-figure score to their name. 

India looked on the path of a big score with Sanju Samson and Manish Pandey at the crease at the halfway point. However, Pandey’s loose waft outside off stump that anyway wouldn’t have yielded anything but a single, ended his another frustrating stay the crease. This could well be his last appearance for India with the cut-throat competition in the side and he would be kicking himself for not making the most of the opportunities in all the games of the series.

Suryakumar Yadav played some delightful strokes and his short stay at the crease created enough drama and chaos for entertainment. However, he too did not help India a great deal and when Hardik Pandya went for, India’s debutants were left to bail the side out of trouble.

For Sri Lanka, Akila Dananjaya and debutant Praveen Jayawickrama were the pick of the bowlers and both of them picked three wickets each. Chameera was rapid as usual and picked two wickets to end the lower order’s resistance.

Debutantes among batsmen, Krishnappa Gowtham and Nitish Rana failed to shine in the first attempt at international cricket and left Indian bowlers to do a lot for than they would have desired on not so helpful pitch.

India would be disappointed for not winning the series 3-0 and in the insight will value the match-winning innings of Deepak Chahar a lot more than it was done. On the other hand, Sri Lanka would be delighted at putting up a clinical performance in all the departments of the game and getting their second win of the year.

Now, the caravan will move to the three-match T20 series which will be played at the same venue from Sunday, July 25.