Riyan Parag stars with 3-fer on ODI debut, but Sri Lanka post competitive 248-7 in 3rd ODI
Riyan Parag claimed 3-54 in nine overs on his ODI debut, but Avishka Fernando (96 off 102) and Kusal Mendis (59 off 82) lifted Sri Lanka to 248-7 in the third ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, August 7. India need to win the match to square the three-match series 1-1.
The openers got the Lankans off to a great start, adding 89 in 19.5 overs. Pathum Nissanka (45 off 65) got off to a brisk start, striking four fours inside the first three overs. Both Nissanka and Fernando looked in little trouble as the Sri Lankans reached 41-0 after 10 overs.
Nissanka took on Axar Patel in the next over, slog-sweeping him for a maximum over midwicket. The Sri Lankan opener smacked the left-arm spinner for a four and a six in the latter's next over as well. It was Axar, however, who got the breakthrough as Nissanka top-edged a slog sweep off a flighted delivery.
Fernando and Mendis continued the good work for Sri Lanka, adding 82 for the second wicket. Fernando reached his fifty by driving Axar with an open face between the backward point and the deep cover point. The Sri Lankan opener went after Mohammed Siraj in the 29th over, edging a four and clubbing two sixes.
Debutant Riyan Parag leads India's fightback in 3rd ODI vs Sri Lanka
Riyan broke the frustrating stand, smartly trapping Fernando lbw four short of his hundred, getting a leg break to skid through. Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka (10) began the 38th over by slog-sweeping Riyan with disdain for a six over deep midwicket. The spinner, however, had his revenge when he had Asalanka trapped in front of the stumps with a good-length ball.
Siraj made amends for a poor show with a brilliant yorker that caught Sadeera Samarawickrama (0) right in front of the wickets. Washington Sundar (8) then bowled Janith Liyanage (8) as the Sri Lankan batter edged a fuller-length delivery onto his stumps. Riyan had his third when he squared by Dunith Wellalage (2) with a good-length ball and knocked him over.
After a couple of quiet over, Mendis took on Riyan and whacked him for consecutive fours by bringing out the sweep. His fine knock ended when he was smartly caught on the ropes by Shubman Gill off Kuldeep Yadav's bowling.
Kuldeep could have had Maheesh Theekshana stumped as well, but Rishabh Pant was too cheeky with the gloves and allowed the batter to ground his bat. The third umpire initially pressed the wrong signal, but got it right in the end. Kamindu Mendis (23* off 19) played a good cameo to lift Sri Lanka past 245.