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Sri Lanka Break 9 Year Jinx - Beat India By 3 Wickets

3rd ODI - India vs Sri Lanka - Khettarama Stadium

India's dominance over Sri Lanka came to an end, at least by way of matches, as the home team won the third and final ODI by three wickets in a fluctuating finish at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.

India won the three match series 2/1.

The win on Friday night gave Sri Lanka its first win over India at home in 9 years, as the touring team could not defend their score of 226 after rain reduced the contest to 47 overs.

Although India plucked some crucial wickets towards the latter stages of the match, Sri Lanka never looked like letting the proceedings slip away after the second wicket pair of Avishka Fernando (76) and Bhanuka Rajapakse (65) consolidated the innings through a 109-run partnership.

Fernando received the man of the match award and ensured Sri Lanka got close to the target with another productive stand of 43 with Charith Asalanka (24) and never looked troubled until Indian spin bowler Rahul Chahar crept in to grab three important wickets.

The first to go was skipper Dasun Shanaka for a first ball duck followed by the scalps of Fernando, caught at slip by Prithvi Shaw and Chamika Karunaratne stumped by Sanju Samson for 3.

But the last of the recognised Sri Lanka batsmen Ramesh Mendis saw off Chahar and with several overs left, posted the winning runs with eight overs in the bag as he remained unbeaten on 15.

Earlier India were cruising along at 147 for 3 when rain interrupted the match that was reduced to 47 overs and the break it appeared, brought about a dramatic turn for Sri Lanka.

The spin duo of Praveen Jayawickrema and Akila Dananjaya with three wickets each played key roles in terminating the Indian batting that collapsed from 157 for 3 in 24.5 overs to 226 all out in 43.1 overs.

India, having secured the series 2-0 at the start of the final game, introduced five new players, the most important being wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson to replace Ishan Kishan.

Samson made 46 and shared in a 102-run stand for the second wicket with Prithvi Shaw (49) after Shikkhar Dhawan was caught behind for 13 while attempting to drive a ball from fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera.

Scores: India 226 in 43.1 overs (Prithvi Shaw 49, Sanju Samson 46, Suriyakumar Yadav 40, Akila Dananjaya 3 for 44, Praveen Jayawickrema 3 for 59) Sri Lanka 227 for 7 in 39 overs (Avishka Fernando 76, Bhanuka Rajapakse 65, Rahul Chahar 3 for 54)