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Xtra Time Web Desk: Avishka Fernanado (76 off 98) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa ( 65 off 556) guided Sri Lanka to a consolation three wicket win over India in the 3^rd ODI at the R Pramadasa stadium on Friday. It was the second win for the home side this year, as they climbed one position higher to be placed 11^th in the ODI Super League points table. Chasing 227 runs to win in 47 overs Sri Lanka managed to win by three wickets with 48 balls remaining.

Opener Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa were impressive against a new look Indian bowling attack. They stitched a partnership of 109-runs for the second wicket to set the platform for the run chase. However few quick wickets during the middle stages gave India a slight glimmer of hope. Debutant Rahul Chahar (54/3) and Chetan Sakariya(34/2) were impressive as they shared five wickets between them.  

Sakariya sent back Rajapaksa caught by Gowtham for 65 runs and then got the better of Dhananjaya de Silva (7) to reduce the Lankans to 151/3 at the halfway mark. He also bowled a perfect slow bouncer to induce a false shot from Dhananjaya de Silva to catch off his own bowling. Rahul Chahar got his first international wicket by dismissing skipper Dasun Shanaka for a first-ball duck caught brilliantly by Manish Pandey in short covers. He followed it up with the wickets of Avishka Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne to see the home side in a spot. However, the period of uncertainty didn't last long as the hosts got over the line with eight overs to spare.

Earlier in the day, Dhawan won the toss and opted to bat first but India failed to get off to a strong start as the captain was dismissed in the third over for 13 by Dushmantha Chameera. Prithvi Shaw and debutant Sanju Samson added 74 runs for the second wicket. However, Shaw (49) and Samson (46) departed in a span of 17 balls as the hosts reduced India to 118/3 in 18.4 overs. Middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav scored a brisk 37-ball 40 but could not steer India to a strong total as they kept losing wickets regularly at the other end. India ended up posting 225 all out in 43.1 overs.

The focus now shifts to the three-match T20I series, beginning on Sunday, July 25.