IND vs SL 3rd T20I Weather Updates: Sri Lanka win toss and decide to bowl first in Pallekele; India make four changes
19:40: Sri Lanka have won the toss and have decided to bowl first in the third and final T20I of the series against India in Pallekele. The Lankans have made one change to their playing XI - Chamindu Wickramasinghe comes in for Dasun Shanaka. For India, Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Rishabh Pant have been rested.
India playing XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Sanju Samson (WK), Suryakumar Yadav (C), Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed
Sri Lanka playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando
19:01: As per an official update from the host broadcaster, the toss in the India vs Sri Lanka third T20I in Pallekele will take place at 7:40 PM IST, while the match will begin at 8:00 PM. Fans would be hoping that there is no further rain.
Meanwhile, in his pitch report, former Sri Lankan batter Russel Arnold states that while a strong wind might have blown the rain away, the threat of intermittent showers persists. As for the surface, he feels that it’s a slow pitch and a lot drier than the one used in the previous game.
Arnold reckons the pitch will be slow and would offer turn as well. Considering the weather, we could have another shortened game and hence Arnold opines that chasing might be a sensible option.
18:30: The toss in the third T20I between India and Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium has been delayed due to wet outfield. However, in some good news for players and fans, the rain has stopped and the covers are being taken off.
18:10: The covers are on at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium ahead of the third T20I between India and Sri Lanka, which will be played on Tuesday, July 30. There is a slight drizzle. The conditions are gloomy and the entire ground is under covers. As per reports, it has been raining on and off in Kandy.
Pallekele Weather report for July 30: As per AccuWeather, the evening weather forecast for Pallekele is cloudy. The temperature will be in the range of 23 degree Celsius. The probability of precipitation is 19 percent. However, the cloud cover is predicted to be 100 percent.
Shifting focus to the night weather in Pallekele, the weather forecast is pretty similar. While the temperature will be around 22 degree Celsius, the probability of precipitation is 23 percent, while the cloud cover is predicted to be at 97 percent.
India are 2-0 up in the three-match T20I series being played in Pallekele
India have already clinched the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka being played in Pallekele 2-0. They beat the Lankans by 43 runs in the opening match of the series on July 27. Batting first, the Men in Blue put up 213-7 on the board as Suryakumar Yadav led from the front with 58 off 26, while Yashasvi Jaiswal hammered 40 off 21. In the chase, Sri Lanka lost 9-30 to be bowled out for 170.
The second T20I in Pallekele on Sunday was also hampered due to rain. After the toss was delayed, the Men in Blue won the toss and decided to bowl first. Sri Lanka were restricted to 161-9 despite Kusal Perera's 53 off 34 as Ravi Bishnoi claimed three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya picked up two each.
Following a lengthy delay due to rain, India were set to chase a target of 78 in eight overs. They got home in 6.3 overs, with seven wickets in hand, courtesy of Jaiswal (30 off 15), Suryakumar (26 off 12) and Pandya (22* off 9).
After the conclusion of the T20I series, India and Sri Lanka will play three ODIs at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo from August 2 to August 7.