Images from the third One-Day International between India and Sri Lanka, in Colombo, on Friday.
Fine knocks by Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa earned Sri Lanka a three-wicket victory over India in the third and final One-Day International, in Colombo, on Friday.
Chasing 227 for victory under the Duckworth/Lewis method, Sri Lanka overhauled a rejigged India's meagre target with 48 balls to spare, finishing with 227 for 7 in 39 overs.
India had already clinched the three-match series after winning the first two ODIs.
Opener Avishka Fernando top-scored with 76 while one-down Bhanuka Rajapaksa contributed a 56-ball 65 to help Sri Lanka script a consolation victory.
It was Sri Lanka's first ODI win at home against India since July 24, 2012 and first victory against them since 2017 ODI at Dharamsala.
Rahul Chahar was India’s most successful bowler with three wickets for 54 runs.
The match was reduced to a 47-over-a-side affair after a rain interruption in the first innings.
The only silver lining for India would be a big-hearted effort from left-arm seamer Chetan Sakariya (2/34 in 8 overs), including a back of the hand delivery that reared up awkwardly and lobbed off Dhananjaya de Silva's gloves.
It was only the second instance in history when India handed debuts to five players in a 50-over match. Left-handed batsman Nitish Rana, leggie Rahul Chahar, left-arm pacer Sakariya, off-spinner Kishnappa Gowtham and wicketkeeper Sanju Samson made their ODI debuts.
The only instance when India had five debutants in an ODI was against Australia in December 1980 at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground when spinner Dilip Doshi, Kirti Azad, Roger Binny, Mumbai stylish batsman Sandeep Patil and Tirumalai Srinivasan made their debuts.Left-handed batsman and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan and Mumbai's Suryakumar Yadav had made their ODI debut in the first game at the same venue.
Earlier, India's young batsmen paid the price for their profligacy and inexperience as Sri Lanka's spinners made best use of a rain break to dismiss the visitors for a lowly 225 in 43.1 overs.
With the series pocketed, India coach Rahul Dravid rejigged the bowling line-up along with a couple of changes in the batting order, but it was evident that the lack of game awareness was their undoing on the day.
The rain-break at the end of the 23rd over, which reduced the game to 47-overs per side, helped the home team. The pitch suddenly had a bit of freshness and the ball gripped and skidded, making life easier for the Sri Lankan spinners, who rocked the Indian middle-order.
The latest trend of young batters not being able to cope up with slow bowlers was on show, as the middle-order looked clueless against left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama (3/59 in 10 overs) and off-spinner Akila Dananjaya (3/44 in 10 overs), who, in his second spell, blew away the lower middle order with turn and bounce.
However, Prithvi Shaw (49 off 49 balls) dazzled with his breath-taking array of strokes, while Sanju Samson again made batting look easy during his run-a-ball 46.
If Shaw slog-swept Jayawickrama in front and behind square, Samson played the inside-out cover drive easily.
The duo added 74 runs in 13.2 overs and one can't fault anyone who was dreaming of something big as they injected life in a dead rubber.
However, after skipper Dasun Shanaka got one to skid and trap Shaw, Manish Pandey's (11 off 19 balls) inclusion brought about a break in momentum.
Samson was in no mood to relent but an uppish inside-out check drive was plucked by Avishka Fernando at extra-cover easily.
Post the break, when India resumed at 147 for three, the spinners suddenly started getting more turn and the rain had spiced up the pitch.
Pandey, who, perhaps, will not get any more chance on the tour or even in the near future, blew it away when Jayawickrama deceived him with a beautifully flighted delivery.
It was a typical orthodox left-arm spinner's dismissal as the ball spun enough to beat Pandey, who went for an expansive drive.
Hardik Pandya (17) smashed three boundaries but Jayawickrama, already pumped up with twin scalps, got another one that turned enough to square up the colourful Baroda man.
Kumar Dharmasena's poor day just became worse as the third umpire overruled him for the umpteenth time during the match.
Suryakumar Yadav (40 off 37 balls) again batted like a dream and hit seven boundaries but, just like in the last match, the ball that sharply turns in became his undoing.
The propensity to keep the bat behind the pads did not work as Dananjaya's off-break caught him leg before.
Debutants Krishnappa Gowtham and IPL specialist Nitish Rana both looked out of place under lights. Gowtham played a nothing shot to a full-toss from Dananjaya while Rana was beaten for turn.
