Siraj, Virat, Gill shine as India register thumping 317-run win over Sri Lanka
Chasing 391, Sri Lanka once again had trouble handling Mohammed Siraj with the new ball.
Updated on – 08:24 PM, Sun – 15 Jan 23
Mohammed Siraj (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis during the third and final One Day International cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Thiruvananthapuram: a devastating powerplay spell from Mohammed Siraj Sri Lanka’s losing streak continued in the third straight ODI, helping the hosts to a mammoth 317-run victory in the final ODI in Kerala on Sunday. With this, India has won the ODI series 3-0.
Chasing 391, Sri Lanka once again had trouble handling Mohammed Siraj with the new ball. The pacer wasted no time in dismissing openers Avishka Fernando (1) and Kusal Mendis (4) to reduce Sri Lanka to 22/2 in four overs.
Sri Lanka Was hoping to build a partnership after that. However, Siraj did not let the audience take a break. After his senior pace partner Mohammed Shami sent back Charith Aslanka for just one run, the 28-year-old pacer continued his powerplay exploits, dismissing Nuwanidu Fernando (19), the only double-header for SL so far. The points scorer was and all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (1).
Sri Lanka were 39/5 at the end of the first mandatory powerplay, featuring Chamika Karunaratne (1*) and captain Dasun Shanaka (4*). Siraj could do no wrong as he dismissed Karunaratne for just one run. Alarms were ringing wildly for the Asian champions, who were reduced to 39/6.
Sri Lanka managed to cross the 50-run mark in 14.2 overs. But it was Kuldeep Yadav who gave India their first breakthrough of the match by dismissing captain Shanaka for 11 off 26 balls.
Shami continued Sri Lanka’s decline by dismissing Dunith Welles for just three runs. The visitors were left at 51/8.
Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Lahiru Kumara for nine off 19 balls to end Sri Lanka’s first stand of more than 20 runs in the innings. Kuldeep got the second wicket of the match. With last batsman Ashen Bandara retiring hurt, Sri Lanka were deemed all out for 73 and India registered a massive 317-run victory to clean sweep the series.
Siraj was the pick of the bowlers for India, taking 4/32. Kuldeep and Shami also took two wickets each.
Earlier, centuries from Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill helped India post a mammoth 390 in the third ODI against Sri Lanka at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.
Virat (166*) played a breathtaking innings while Gill (116) played a stellar innings to present a strong case for himself as Rohit Sharma’s batting partner for the upcoming World Cup. The former India captain was also involved in two century partnerships. Kasun Rajitha took two wickets for the visiting team. Batting first, the opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill made a steady start. But once they got their eye, the pair went ballistic and started finding boundaries regularly.
The hosts were 11/0 at the end of four overs, but went through hell in the next six overs to take India to 75/0 at the end of 10 overs, with the Indian skipper making 36 (32) and Gill making 35. (28) batted. , After missing the first two ODIs, Rohit was on course for a big score but was dismissed for 42 (49) by Chamika Karunaratne in the 16th over. The right-handed batsman’s collapse came from a short pitched delivery, tried to send it over the fence but could only time it to find Avishka Fernando at deep backward square leg.
Gill, however, continued his fine form in the ODIs and ensured that the hosts kept the runs going at a brisk pace. Virat Kohli attacked the Sri Lankan bowlers right from the start. Gill survived a close call in the 24th over against Wanindu Hasaranga, who escaped after being hit on the pads while attempting a sweep. The right-handed batsman brought up his second ODI hundred in just 89 balls in the 31st over. Virat also brought up his half-century in the same over, increasing India’s dominance in the match.
The Indian opener hit four fours before being dismissed for 116 (97) in the next over against Jeffrey Vandersay which included 14 fours and two massive sixes. Gill shared a massive 131-run partnership with the former Indian skipper.
Virat got lucky when Vandersay, batting on 82(76), misjudged a catch on the ropes and failed to take the catch. The 34-year-old took full advantage of the relief and scored his 46th ODI hundred.
Shreyas Iyer also made use of the excellent batting position on offer and kept hitting boundaries regularly but was dismissed for 38(32) in the pursuit of scoring more quickly.
KL Rahul (7) and Suryakumar Yadav (4) were dismissed trying to end the Indian innings. Both the batsmen were out at deep extra cover while trying to send the ball over the ropes.
Fondly known as ‘King Kohli’ by his fans, he unleashed a flurry of strokes after completing his century. The right-handed batsman hit seven sixes after reaching his century and scored 166* in the final over. He hit two sixes in the last over to help India finish on 390/5 in the second ODI.
Brief scores: India 390/5 (Virat Kohli 166*, Shubman Gill 116; Kasun Rajitha 2-81) beat Sri Lanka 73 (Nuvanidu Fernando 19, Kasun Rajitha 13*, Mohammed Siraj 4/32).