Colombo: A fighting seventh-wicket stand between Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis propelled Sri Lanka to a respectable 240/9 in the 150th ODI at the R Premadasa Stadium. The hosts, reeling at 136/6, found unlikely heroes in Wellalage (39) and Mendis (40) who frustrated the Indian bowlers and added crucial runs to the total.
Sri Lanka’s innings got off to a shaky start with the loss of in-form opener Pathum Nissanka on the first ball. Avishka Fernando (40) and Kusal Mendis (30) steadied the ship with a 74-run stand, but the partnership was broken by Washington Sundar who finished with impressive figures of 3/30.
The Indian spin trio of Sundar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav wreaked havoc, picking up six wickets between them. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka fell to the spinners, while Janith Liyanage was trapped by Kuldeep.
With the innings in danger of collapsing, Wellalage and Mendis counter-attacked, hitting some lusty blows to take the score past 200. Mendis was unfortunate to be run out in the penultimate over, but not before contributing significantly to the total.
Sri Lanka’s seamers managed to contain the Indian batsmen, conceding just 111 runs in their 19 overs. India will need to chase 241 runs to win the match on a slow and low pitch.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 240/9 (Mendis 40, Fernando 40, Wellalage 39; Sundar 3-30, Kuldeep 2-33) vs India
