New Delhi: Sri Lankan cricket team has risen from the ashes like a phoenix to defeat the Indian cricket team in a bilateral ODI series for the first time since 1997! The ‘Islanders’ scripted this golden chapter in their cricketing history after they managed to thwart the challenge of Rohit and Co. in the third ODI and won the game by 110 runs in front of a packed home crowd of R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Team India suffered a series defeat at the hands of the Sri Lankan team 27 years later!
SRI LANKA DEFEAT INDIA IN AN ODI SERIES FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1997! 🇱🇰https://t.co/CttffvzwXQ | #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/etBpCgAbbC
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 7, 2024
The last time any Sri Lanka managed to sweep past the Sri Lankan team was back in 1997 when the famous Arjun Ranatunga-led side won a 3-match ODI series (3-0) against the Men in blue. It was the golden hour for Sri Lankan cricket, having won the ICC ODI World Cup the previous year. However, since that 3-0 victory, India has managed to win 11 matches out of the 11 times that the two sides have met.
India vs Sri Lanka- 3rd ODI
3rd ODI- India vs Sri Lanka
Source: Cricinfo
What happened in the 3rd ODI between India vs Sri Lanka?
After winning the toss, captain Asalanka decided to bat first on a slow-turning pitch at R.Pemadasa Stadium of Colombo. The Lankans stitched a healthy partnership of 81 runs for the first wicket which gave a healthy boost to the Sri Lankan innings. Both Avishka Fernando and Pathum Nissanka played carefully as the latter fell short of a well-deserved half-century.
Avishka continued to tonk the ball around the park and weaved yet another partnership with Kusal Mendis before falling short of a hard-fought century at 96. However, by that time, the damage was done as the Sri Lankan side looked poised to score a competitive total as they ended with 248 on the scoreboard
In return, the India team came out all guns blazing as the men in blue looked to chase down the Lankan total in style (138/10). However, barring Rohit Sharma (35) and Washington Sundar (30) none of the batsmen could withstand the willy spinning arm of Dunith Wellalage who took 5/27 from 5.1 overs.
