Colombo: Sri Lanka ended their four-year losing streak against India as they registered a scrappy 3-wicket win in the inconsequential third and final ODI of the series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday.
Chasing a revised target of 227 from 47 overs in the rain-affected game, the Lankans rode on half-centuries from Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa to win their first one-day international against India since 2017. Fernando top-scored with 76 while Rajapaksa made 65 as the hosts crossed the finish line in the 38th over to pull one back for Sri Lanka after losing the first-two games at the same venue earlier this week. India fielded 5 debutants in this game and the inexperience showed on the field even though first-timers Chetan Sakariya and Rahul Chahar did manage to grab a couple of wickets while Krishnappa Gowtham and Hardik Pandya chipped in with a scalp each.
The Lankans were crushing at 194 for 4 courtesy the 109-run partnership between Fernando and Rajapaksa for the 2nd wicket but they made matters difficult for themselves by collapsing to 220 for 7 before the tail-enders Ramesh Mendis and Akila Dananjaya got them to safety.
