SL vs IND: 3rd ODI Preview – Visitors aim to end series in a draw

Sri Lanka will look to beat India in a bilateral ODI series for the first time since 1997 when the two teams lock horns on Wednesday, August 7, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Sri Lanka was whitewashed in the three-match T20I series which preceded the ODIs. However, they have managed to bounce back strongly and are on the cusp of creating history. Charith Asalanka’s side managed to tie the first ODI from the jaws of defeat. India needed one run to win, two wickets, 15 balls to spare, and a set Shivam Dube at the crease. However, Asalanka took two wickets in consecutive deliveries to help Sri Lanka avoid defeat.

In the second game, Sri Lanka posted 240/9 in their 50 overs. India got off to a blistering start thanks to Rohit Sharma’s sensational 44-ball 64 at the top. From 97/0 in the 14th over, the tourists were bowled out for 208 as Jeffrey Vandersay had a field day in the middle, finishing with career-best figures of 6/33 in 10 overs.

What has helped Sri Lanka was that they won the toss in both games and opted to bat first. As the conditions deteriorated for batting, India struggled to cope with Sri Lanka’s spin barrage.

Pitch Report

The average first innings score in the first two games is 235. Ahead of the series, the R Premadasa Stadium had an average first innings score of 225. Out of the 151 games played at this venue, 81 have been won by teams batting first. Meanwhile, chasing teams have triumphed on 59 occasions. The pitch will favour the spinners more and more as the game goes on. The bounce can also be more uneven in the second innings. The toss is going to be very important and the captain who wins it would have no hesitation in deciding to bat first.

Sri Lanka (SL)

Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

India (IND)

Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Washington Sundar, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Axar Patel, Shivam Dube/Riyan Parag, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj