Spinner Dunith Wellalage took 5-27 as Sri Lanka clinched a first ODI series victory over India in 27 years with a 110-run thrashing of the tourists in the third match on Wednesday.
Chasing 249 for victory, number one-ranked India suffered a third successive batting collapse in the three-match series to be bowled out for 138 in 26.1 overs at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka, who last registered a bi-lateral series triumph over India in the 50-over format in 1997, won the series 2-0 after the opener ended in a tie.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli had returned for the ODI matches after Suryakumar Yadav led the team to a 3-0 series sweep in the T20 matches at the start of India’s white-ball tour of Sri Lanka.
Both Rohit and Kohli retired from T20 internationals after the team’s World Cup triumph in Barbados in June.
Indian batsmen struggled to cope with Sri Lanka’s spin in the ODI matches but Rohit played it down.
“I don’t think it’s (playing spin) a concern,” said Rohit.
“But it’s something we need to look at seriously, our individual game plans, and it’s something we were definitely put under pressure with in this series.”
The tour was the first for India coach Gautam Gambhir, who took over the job after Rahul Dravid’s tenure ended following the World Cup win.
Sri Lanka, ranked seventh in the ODI world ranking, have managed a quick turnaround from the T20 matches under new skipper Charith Asalanka and interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya.
“We are in a really good mood right now, especially our coach,” said Asalanka. “He made a few changes in the team, and the boys really enjoyed the team environment.”
Struggling Sri Lanka had failed to qualify for next year’s Champions Trophy and were knocked out of the first round of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
– Fernando power –
The hosts batted first and reached 248-7 with opener Avishka Fernando, who hit 96, and Kusal Mendis, who made 59, setting the pace for the total.
In reply, Rohit made 35 before India fell like a pack of cards as Wellalage rattled the top- and middle-order with his left-arm spin.
Fast bowler Asitha Fernando struck first with the wicket of Shubman Gill before Wellalage took charge and sent back Rohit in just his second over.
He trapped Kohli lbw for 20 and then struck twice in one over as India slipped to 82-6.
Previous-match hero Jeffrey Vandersay, who came in as replacement for injured Wanindu Hasaranga in the second ODI, took two to put India in further trouble at 101-8.
Spinner Maheesh Theekshana also took two wickets. Wellalage wrapped up the Indian innings to return career-best figures.
Fernando, who was named man of the match, set up victory as he put on big partnerships, including an 89-run opening stand with Pathum Nissanka, who hit 45.
Indian bowlers hit back after Riyan Parag sent back Fernando, but Kusal stood firm from one end and boosted the total with his 59.
Parag, who returned figures of 3-54, also captured Asalanka’s wicket for 10 as Sri Lanka slumped from 171-1 to 199-6.
Kusal and Kamindu Mendis, who made an unbeaten 23, put together 36 runs for the seventh wicket and Sri Lanka got 31 runs from the last three overs.
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