India’s tour of Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa shined in batting while spinner duo Akila Dhanajaya and Praween Jayawickrama spun a web to win the 3rd ODI match. It was the last ODI. Both teams were testing their bench, with many changes in the team. It was the debutant’s turn to perform. How did India win the series? Read here
India won the toss and decided to bat first.
Lineups for both teams:
India: Shikhar Dhawan(c), Prithvi Shaw, Manish Pandey, Sanju Samson(wk), Hardik Pandya, Krishnappa Gowtham, Nitish Rana, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Chahar, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya.
Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Minod Bhanuka(wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka(c), Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Akila Dhananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Praween Jayawickrama.
First Innings: India 225 in 20 overs. Jayawickarama and Akila shines with ball while Avishka scores high.
India playing with 5 debutants including Samson, Rahul, Chetan, Saini, and Gowtham. Prithvi Shaw started the innings strong with boundaries in the first over. In the second over, Dhawan scored 2 boundaries taking 12 runs from that over. Chameera struck on the 3rd ball of the 3rd over to get rid of Shikhar Dhawan caught behind. India was 28/1.
Prithvi continued his play scoring 2 boundaries in the 7th over. Sanju Samson’s first six of his ODI career came at the last over of the powerplay stepping out and hitting down the ground. Prithvi and Sanju were playing very nicely scoring runs at every opportunity. Shaw(49 runs from 49 balls) was trapped LBW trying to guide the ball to the leg side by the skipper, Dasun Shanaka, just 1 run sort of 50. Sanju was on 33 runs and India was on 102/2 in 15.5 overs.
Sanju Samson(46 of 46 balls) trying to over the covers to getting caught in the bowling of Praween Jayawickrama. Suryakumar and Manish were both new to the crease. With Suryakumar(17 runs from 13 balls) playing some superb shots. Spinners were finding their rhythm at that point. The match was reduced to 47 overs because of the rain. India was 147/3.
Play resumed and under lights.
Manish Pandey(11 runs from 19 balls) tried to play away from the body getting caught behind on a beautifully flighted delivery. It was Jayawickrama’s 2nd wicket. Hardik came to the crease and started scoring quick runs to up the run rate a little bit. India was 179/4 when Jayawickrama got Hardik(19 runs from 17 balls) LBW with a round arm sharp turning delivery. Suryakumar(40 runs from 37 balls) followed behind also LBWed by Akila Dhananjaya.
Gowtham(2 runs from 3 balls) missed a loose full toss on the pads and was LBWed. It was Akila’s 2nd wicket. Akila struck again, this time a classic off-spinners dismissal. Nitish Rana(7 runs from 14 balls) was caught behind. Rahul Chahar and Navdeep Saini were looking to play full 47 overs. But Karunaratne’s bouncer was skyed up from Chahar(13 runs from 25 balls) to lose 9th wicket at 224/9. Chameera’s well-directed bouncer to Saini(15 from 37 balls) was caught by the keeper with the simplest of catches towards gully.
Praween Jayawickrama and Akila Dhananjaya took 3 wickets each bowling beautifully. Chameera got 2 wickets and Karunaratne and Shanaka got 1 wicket each. West Indies winning 4-1 against Australia.
Second Innings: Srilanka’s steady start ensured a successful run chase.
Both batsmen were looking in good touch. Specifically, Avishka Fernando was looking dangerous. India looking to do what Srilanka did with the spinners. Krishnappa Gowtham was introduced to the attack and Minod Bhanuka(7 runs from 17 balls) was caught at square-leg sweeping the ball.
Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa started to build a partnership. They were scoring at every opportunity and playing with caution as well. Avishka got to his 50 with a quick single at the end of the 17th over from 53 deliveries. It was what the Sri Lankan side needed and wanted. Meanwhile, Rajapaksa started to attack fearlessly. Which created a chance in the deep mid-wicket region with Chetan Sakariya not able to grab the catch.
Rajapaksa got to his 50 in style reverse sweeping Chahar for a boundary. It came a the 42nd ball of his innings. In the 23rd over, Rajapaksa got a life-line with Nitish Rana protecting the deep mid-wicket boundary. In the same over after hitting a four Rajapaksa(65 runs 56 balls, 12(4)) was caught at deep fine-leg. Chetan Sakariya taking the wicket and Gowtham with the catch.
Nail-bitting finish to the match.
Chetan in his next over struck again with a caught and bowled wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva(2 0f 9 balls). He did not expect the ball to bounce as high as it did. It should have been a turning point if in the 31st over Manish Pandey had taken the catch of Avishka of Gowtham. But the if game is not played by the reality.
Charith Asalanka supported Avishka(24 runs from 28 balls) with his 24 runs before giving Hardik his wicket LBW. India hopes were raised when Chahar got the skipper, Dasun Shanka, out for a golden duck. Sri Lanka was 195/5 in 32.4 overs. It was a dropped catch again at the very next ball by Prithvi Shaw in the slips.
With only 13 runs left Avishka Fernando(76 runs from 98 deliveries, 4(4) 1(6)) after playing a fantastic inning had to depart. Prithvi Shaw made no mistake in the slips this time. And Rahul Chahar getting his deserved wicket as well. He would strike again with only 7 runs to win for Sri Lanka. Sanju Samson got into action stumping Chamika Karunaratne(3 runs from 10 balls). It would the last wicket of the match. Sri Lanka winning by 3 wickets. Ramesh Mendis(15* runs from 18 balls) and Akila Dhanajaya(5 runs from 2 balls) being not out.
Rahul Chahar picking up 3 wickets. 2 wickets for Chetan Sakariya, while Hardik and Gowtham grabbing one each.
Avishka Fernando was given a well-deserved Man of the Match award. While Suryakumar Yadav getting Man of the Series. Ireland won by 43 runs against South Africa.
