Internet Desk: India yet again put up a stellar performance to take an unassailable 3-0 lead over hosts Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI of the five match series at Pallekele today. India won the game by 6 wickets when they were set to a mere target of 218 runs.
Batting first the island nation hosts managed only 217-9 in the allotted 50 overs owing to some brilliant bowling spells from Jasprit Bumrah who bagged up 5 wickets for the Men in Blue. As for the Lankan’s Thirimanne was the highest scorer with 80 runs.
Indian star opener Rohit ‘Hitman’ Sharma registered his 12th ODI century after he scored a magnificent 124* which consisted of 16 fours and 2 sixes. Much like the previous game, Indian middle order had yet another batting collapse when star performers like skipper Virat Kohli, Kedar Jadhav and Lokesh Rahul failed to add scores to the board.
However the reins of the Indian innings were once again held by former skipper and arguably the best finisher of modern times, MS Dhoni who along with Rohit played a vital partnership and guided India to victory.
Dhoni scored a brilliant 67 which consisted of 4 fours and a lone sixer. As for the Lankans Akila Dananjaya scalped 2 wickets while Malinga and Fernando claimed one each.
When India were 210-4 in the 44 over and just shy of the target by 8 runs, the match was stopped or some odd 32 minutes when some agitated Sri Lankan fans started throwing bottles into the ground. The match was ultimately restarted after stands at one side of the ground were completely cleared.
This win sees India being the winners of the five match ODI series however the question remains as to whether India will be able to register a whitewash in this series similar to the test series.
India will play 2 ODI games followed by a single T20 game.