SL VS IND 3RD ODI

Right then. Shikhar Dhawan gets the ODI trophy and he poses with his team as they are celebrating their victory in this series. India are not able to inflict the whitewash as they lose out to Sri Lanka in the final ODI game, but this win will give Sri Lanka a morale boost. That is not all, from this tour, as after the ODI series, the 3-game T20I series will be upon on. The first of those will be played on Sunday, 25th July 2021 at 8 pm local (1430 GMT). We hope to have your company for that game. Until then, cheers!

The Indian captain, Shikhar Dhawan says that things didn't go their way and feels that they had a good start but lost wickets in the middle and hence, couldn't get a good score. Adds that he is happy that so many players got a game after staying in quarantine for a long time and mentions he is okay that he didn't do his best with the bat and always looks to improve. Mentions they were positive that they could defend the total but also knew they were 50 runs short and says that we all make mistakes and learn from them and improve.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV IS THE PLAYER OF THE SERIES. He says that he has been consistent for the past 2-3 years and his success mantra is working for him. Opines that he would have loved to make a big score, but he hopes to get better. On him bowling, he laughs and says that he is ready, if the team needs him to bowl. Feels that the atmosphere in the camp is very positive.

Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan skipper, starts by congratulating India for winning the series and he is happy with the way they played in this game. Praises his bowlers and thinks that his bowlers showed character and hopes that they can continue this form. Tells that the guys need to play more and more cricket to get more reliable. Says that this win is for the fans as it has come after a long time and he thanks the players and the staff. Laughs and cheekily says that he enjoys his captaincy on the field, but not off the field.

AVISHKA FERNANDO IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that if he had done well in the second match, they could have won the match and the series, but is happy with this performance. Adds, after the England tour, he made improvements on his techniques and mentions that we have a very young side, and going forward, he believes that they will do well.

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Earlier in the day, India started off on the right note, as they kept the scoreboard ticking and were scoring runs at a healthy rate, but all that changed, after the rain delay, as the Lankan spinners spun the Indian middle order into a web. It looked like they could cross 300, but folded for a measly score. In the end, Sri Lanka did enough, in all aspects of the game, to win the final game of the series.

Not a very bad bowling display by India, but yes, they did need some more from their bowlers. Cannot even blame them, as many of them were making their ODI debuts and were new to this stage of international cricket. India got a wicket early on, but took a while to get that second one, but by that time, the game was already slipping away from them. They took a couple of quick wickets, but with the total being slightly low, Sri Lanka did not have a lot of issues, closing the game out. Another issue was India's fielding as they dropped a load of catches and who knows, if they had been taken, they could have got something out of this game. Rahul Chahar bowled very well, getting three, whereas Chetan Sakariya got two to his name. Krishnappa Gowtham, too, got one under his belt, but it did not prove to be enough.

Even though the total was not a massive one, the Lankans would have wanted to start off with a bang, which would have eased some nerves and they did, just that. They lost a wicket early on, but the duo of Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa made it a point to keep going on and not let the Indians have any sniff. Both of them go to their fifties, as they raised a stand of 109 runs, which made the job easier for the Lankans. Chetan Sakariya opened the door slightly for India, by taking 2 quick wickets. Charith Asalanka scored a few quick runs before he fell too. While all of this was going on, Fernando kept a hold on one end and even though Sri Lanka lost a flurry of wickets towards the end, they crossed the line.

Stop the press. Sri Lanka have FINALLY won an ODI game! This is also the first time that Sri Lanka have beaten India in an ODI game, since JULY 2012! It has been a long time coming and this has been a very good display from them to ensure that they get a win, firstly, and secondly, that they avoid getting whitewashed by the Indians.

That's it, Sri Lanka have finally done it! Fuller one on the stumps and Mendis sweeps it fine towards fine leg for the winning run. SRI LANKA WIN BY 3 WICKETS (DLS METHOD)!

SCORES LEVEL! Shorter one on middle, Akila Dananjaya swings at it as it's a Free Hit but gets the top edge just over the bowler's head for a single as the ball landed safely.

FOUR! That was surprising. Tossed up delivery on off and every fielder is close to the batsman, Akila Dananjaya makes use of this and crashes his cover drive into the vacant boundary on the off side. This would have take a lot of pressure off the hosts. NO BALL called as there weren't enough fielders in the ring and a Free Hit is coming up.

Akila Dananjaya is in!

OUT! STUMPED! Sharp work by Samson sees Sri Lanka lose another wicket. Floated, outside off, Chamika Karunaratne looks to defend, but the ball spins away, and evades the outside edge to the keeper, where Samson collects and whips the bails off. Sanju is convinced and the third umpire is called to refer this. Ultra Edge shows no bat. Replays show that the foot was on the line and not behind it, when the bails come off. The third umpire has a couple of looks and decides that this will be out. 7 more needed.

The googly around middle, defended out.

On middle, swept hard to fine leg for one.

Tossed up, around off, Mendis looks to defend, but the ball takes the pad and goes to the first slip, who pouches this. An appeal but the umpire shakes his head.