INDIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS! Dhoni guides a full-toss from Fernando towards deep midwicket region after a top-edge, and once again collects the winning run, as India clinch the five-match series 3-0! 3rd ODI preview: Having already secured a 2-0 lead, India will look to seal the series against Sri Lanka in the third of the five-match ODI series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Sunday. India took a 2-0 lead in the series after pulling off a three-wicket victory from the jaws of defeat in the last match. [caption id=“attachment_3977829” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
Indian captain Virat Kohli (L) and his Sri Lankan counterpart Chamara Kapugedera. AFP[/caption] The visitors had suffered a batting collapse, losing seven wickets in the space of 22 runs to be reduced to 131/7 at one stage thanks to excellent bowling by Sri Lanka off-spinner Akila Dananjaya, who returned a six-wicket haul. But former captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (45 not out) and tailender Bhuvneshwar Kumar (53 not out) put together 100-run partnership to help the visitors chase down the target. Openers Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan had put India off to a fine start with a stand of 109 runs and the visitors will bank them and Dhoni to continue their fine form. The Indians will also hope that batsmen KL Rahul, Kedar Jadhav and skipper Virat Kohli gets back to form after all three failed to reach double figures in the last match. In the bowling department, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, alongside spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel, will look to put breaks on the Sri Lankan batting which has failed to pose a threat in the previous matches. Sri Lanka will hope batsmen Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne, who have been called up for the remaining ODIs as a replacement for Danushka Gunathilaka and captain Upul Tharanga bring some positives into the side. Stand-in captain Chamara Kapugedera along with Niroshan Dickwella and Milinda Siriwardana will look to play a key role in the batting department. Among the bowlers, Dananjaya will look to continue his fine form. Squads India: Virat Kohli (C), Rohit Sharma, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (WK), Shikhar Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kedar Jadhav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Lokesh Rahul, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav, Shardul Thakur. Sri Lanka: Chamara Kapugedera (C), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Milinda Siriwardana, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Akila Dananjaya, Kusal Mendis BenchThisara Perera, Malinda Pushpakumara, Wanidu Hasaranga, Lakshan Sandakan. With IANS inputs.
Highlights India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI in Pallekele, cricket score: Visitors win by 6 wickets, clinch series
INDIA WIN BY SIX WICKETS! Dhoni guides a full-toss from Fernando towards deep midwicket region after a top-edge, and once again collects the winning run, as India clinch the five-match series 3-0!
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That’s it from us in our coverage of the third ODI between India and Sri Lanka, with the visitors wriggling out of yet another tight situation, and making the 218-run chase look easy to complete a six-wicket win, and clinching the five-match series 3-0. The remaining matches have now been reduced to dead rubbers, though it allows Kohli and Shastri room to experiment with their squad.
We’ll return on Thursday for our coverage of the fourth one-dayer. For now, it is time for me, Amit, to sign off on behalf of my colleague Vaibhav, as well as our contributors Chetan Narula and Umang Pabari. Goodnight!
Shame Russel Arnold has to apologise for the fringe elements in the crowds causing disturbance
The duo of Rohit Sharma and MSD’s partnership ensure India do not have any hiccup after the early bursts by the Lankan bowlers
After 45.1 overs,India 218/4 ( Rohit Sharma 124 , MS Dhoni (W) 67)
Dhoni guides a full toss from Vishwa Fernando towards the deep midwicket region, collecting the winning single as the ball lands safely beyond the fielders’ reach. The resumption of play was a mere formality, with Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni having sealed the game in their favour with a mammoth unbeaten fifth-wicket stand. In the end, they needed seven more deliveries to score the remaining eight runs.
After 45 overs,India 217/4 ( Rohit Sharma 124 , MS Dhoni (W) 66)
Play eventually resumes after being held up for more than half an hour by the unruly crowd. Dhoni collects a single at the start of the over to complete the 150-run stand for the fifth wicket. Six runs runs are collected in the remainder of the over, with Dhoni keeping strike for the following over with a single off the last ball.
Doesn’t look good this
More images of the havoc that has caused this unecessary disturbance
After 44 overs,India 210/4 ( Rohit Sharma 122 , MS Dhoni (W) 61)
Massive over for the Indians, with 12 coming off it. Rohit sweeps the second ball of the over towards the square-leg fence, while Dhoni comes down the track and smashes it down the ground, with the ball disappearing beyond the long-on fence!
India need 8 to win from 36 balls.
Most fifties by wicket-keepers against an opposition in ODIs:
18 – MS DHONI v Sri Lanka*
18 – Kumar Sangakkara v India
After 43 overs,India 198/4 ( Rohit Sharma 117 , MS Dhoni (W) 54)
Dhoni powerfully cuts the second ball of the 43rd over towards the point boundary to bring up his half-century. Guides the last ball towards deep backward point to collect a couple of runs, with Malinga saving a couple of runs for the hosts with an outstretched foot.
India need 20 to win from 42 balls.
Most 50-plus scores by Indians while chasing in ODIs:
69 – Sachin Tendulkar
45 – Virat Kohli
44 – Sourav Ganguly
37 – Rahul Dravid
32 – Mohammed Azharuddin, MS DHONI*
After 42 overs,India 191/4 ( Rohit Sharma 116 , MS Dhoni (W) 48)
Siriwardana bowls the 42nd over. Rohit and Dhoni collecting a single each in this over, the latter moving to 48 in the process. India now a stone’s throw away from a win now.
India need 27 to win from 48 balls.
After 41 overs,India 189/4 ( Rohit Sharma 115 , MS Dhoni (W) 47)
Rohit and Dhoni stick to collecting singles in the 41st over, three of which are scored, as Dananjaya finishes with figures of 2/38 after 10 overs. In the end, Rohit and Dhoni did tackle him successfully, even hitting him for a couple of boundaries. Good outing for the mystery bowler nevertheless.
India need 29 to win from 54 balls.
After 40 overs,India 186/4 ( Rohit Sharma 114 , MS Dhoni (W) 45)
Siriwardana starts to bowl the over before the final powerplay and creates a chance with Rohit Sharma skying it on the 5th ball, but a circling Chamara Kapugedera bungles it. Tough chance running back but should have done better. India are coasting now. Dhoni takes the single of the final ball to retain strike. 32 runs needed off the last 10.
Congratulatory messages for Rohit Sharma start to flow
After 38 overs,India 182/4 ( Rohit Sharma 113 , MS Dhoni (W) 42)
Fernando bowls the 38th over, leaking six runs off it, including a boundary in the third ball of the over — courtesy a flick through midwicket by Rohit.
India need 36 to win from 72 balls.
After 39 overs,India 183/4 ( Rohit Sharma 113 , MS Dhoni (W) 43)
Dananjaya returns to the attack in the 39th over, conceding a single in the third ball of the over, with Dhoni moving to 43 with that stroke.
India need 35 to win from 66 balls.