SL v Ind, 3rd ODI as it happened: Rohit, Bumrah help India clinch series against Sri Lanka

Jasprit Bumrah and Rohit Sharma produced remarkable performances to help India seal the five match series agaisnt Sri Lanka 3-0 after a fine six-wicket win in the third ODI in Pallekele on Sunday.

Chasing a modest target of 218, India were left struggling at one stage as they lost four wickets with just 61 on the board. Sharma, though, played a solid knock to keep them afloat. Dhoni soon joined in and proved a perfect foil for the opening batsman. Sharma went onto notch up his 12th ODI ton and pieced together an unbeaten 157-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dhoni. The former India captain also got a half century under his belt as they steered India to victory with relative ease after the initial blows.

Earlier, Bumrah produced his best ever performance as he scalped five wickets for the first time in ODIs. After picking up two wickets in his opening spell, the pacer returned to dismiss three more Sri Lankan batsmen in the latter stages of the innings.

The Sri Lanka bowlers also showed some gumption and put India under the thumb early on, however, they did not do much when it came to Rohit and Dhoni.

The only thing that posed trouble for the duo was crowd trouble late into the game. A section of the crowd began throwing bottles on the field with India needing just eight runs.

Play eventually resumed after a stand, where the trouble began, was emptied. India completed the win soon after the resumption of play with Dhoni completing the win with a single. Rohit and Dhoni remain unbeaten on 124 and 67 respectively.

As it happened:

10.37pm: India win by 6 wickets. Clinch five-match series 3-0. Dhoni hits the winning runs. Rohit and Dhoni remain unbeaten on 124 and 67 respectively.

10.30pm: Play resumes after a stand in the stadium, where the trouble began is emptied. Rohit, Dhoni begin from where they had left off. The 150-run partnership comes up for them.

10.20pm: The players, meanwhile, have walked off the field. The customary handshakes have also taken place. An official word, however, is still awaited.

10.18pm: As we wait for the game to restart, Dhoni is lying face-down on the field. Taking a nap, may be.

10.00pm: Play halted in Pallekele. A section of the crowd begins to throw plastic bottles onto the field. India need just another 8 runs to seal victory and wrap up the series.

9.56pm: India bring up 200. Dhoni now toying with the bowlers. He is looking to wrap things up quickly. India 210/4. They need another 8 runs to win.

9.53pm: 50 up for Dhoni. He has played an important knock today. Not only did it help calm things down after the early four wickets, but also gave Rohit the confidence to play his natural game. India 198/4. Thet need another 20 runs to win.

9.45pm: Rohit gets a reprieve. He skies one off Siriwardana. Kapugedera circles underneath, but does not quite reach it. India 189/4.

9.33pm: India trudging along comfortably now. Just 42 needed from 13 overs. Rohit and Dhoni have added 115 runs now for the fifth wicket. India were 61/4 when the two began the rebuilding process.

9.26pm: 100 up for Rohit! His 12th in ODIs and the first in Sri Lanka. Has batted brilliantly today. His effort proved crucial in resurrecting India’s chase after they lost four wickets early on. India 160/4.

9.20pm: Rohit unbeaten on 99. The opening batsman with some support from Dhoni has brought India near the Sri Lanka’s target of 218.

9.11pm: Rohit smashes the first six of the Indian innings. He is now unbeaten on 95. India 148/4 after 32 overs. They need another 70 runs to win.

8.58pm: India need another 93 runs to win. Rohit, Dhoni have built a fine partnership. Sri Lanka struggling to stop the run flow now. India 125/4 after 28 overs.

8.42pm: 100 up for India. 50 partnership also up between Rohit and Dhoni. Rohit rock solid on 68. Dhoni giving good support. India need a partnership here. Sri Lanka are not letting up the pressure. However, the two batsmen are playing calmly. Dhoni has scored just nine runs, but has rotated the strike brilliantly even as Rohit goes about playing his style of cricket. India 113/4 after 25 overs.

8.28pm: Fifty for Rohit Sharma! He has batted brilliantly so far. He reaches the landmark with a boundary and then celebrates it with another off the very next delivery. India 85/4. They need another 133 runs to win.

8.22pm: Despite the wickets falling around him, Rohit remains solid in his approach. Dhoni, who came in after Jadav’s departure has further calmed things down in the middle. India 72/4. (Rohit 43*, Dhoni 3*). They need another 145 runs to win.

8.12pm: WICKET! India lose their fourth wicket. Kedar Jadav is LBW off Dananjaya. He goes for a sweep, but cannot connect. The visitors in trouble at 61/4.

8.01pm: WICKET! Dananjaya strikes in his first over. Rahul holes out for 17. He looks to smash one out of the park off a wrong one. Thirimanna completes an easy catch at the boundary line. India struggling at 61/3.

7.53pm: 50 up for India. Rohit, Rahul have steadied the ship after the early two wickets. India 58/2 after 13 overs. (Rohit 33*, Rahul 15*).

7.42pm: India placed precariously here. Sri Lanka bowlers have their tails up. Lot mistimed shots and a number streaky shots so far. India 35/2 after 10 overs.

7.30pm: KL Rahul has joined Rohit Sharma in the middle. India need a partnership here. The ball is doing just a bit for the batsmen to make adjustments. India 25/2 after 7 overs. (Rohit 16*, Rahul 0*).

7.21pm: WICKET! Kohli gone! The India skipper hits it straight to deep square leg off Fernando. Disastrous start for India. The ball was hardly unplayable. Kohli went into the shot early and failed to find the gap. India are 19/2.

7.06pm: WICKET! Malinga bowls Dhawan! The opening batsman chops it onto the stumps. It was a quick delivery with just a hint of swing. India 9/1 after 2.2 overs.

7.01pm: India begin well. Both Rohit and Shikhar have got off the mark with a boundary. India are 9/0 after two overs. (Rohit 4*, Shikhar 5*).

6.55pm: The players have come back on to the field. Rohit and Shikhar to open the innings for India. Malinga to bowl the first over.

Update: Chandimal, who was hit on the thumb by a Pandya delivery has suffered a hairline fracture and will take no further part in the match.

6.15pm: Sri Lanka finish with 217/9. Bumrah began well and ended strongly. His figures: 10-2-27-5. Having won the toss and electing to bat first, Sri Lanka will be disappointed by their effort. India made most of the overcast conditions. The pacers were in top form. The fielding left a lot to be desired, but Sri Lanka’s poor batting put that in the background.

6.10pm: WICKET! Sri Lanka lose their ninth wicket. Chameera is run out by Bhuvneshwar. He misses the ball but goes for the run. Dhoni flings it to Bhuvneshwar, who calmly knocks off the bails at the other end. Sri Lanka 210/9 after 49 overs.

6.04pm: WICKET! Bumrah completes his five wicket haul. This time he bowls Siriwardana. This is his first ever five-for in ODIs. Sri Lanka 201/8.

6.00pm: The covers are off and the players are back on the field. 200-up for Sri Lanka. Bumrah bowls the first over after the break and concedes back to back boundaries. Sri Lanka 201/7.

5.51pm: Play has been stopped. It’s raining in Pallekele and the covers are being brought on. Sri Lanka 192/7 after 47 overs.

5.44pm: WICKET! Bumrah gets his fourth! Dananjaya gets bowled. Bumrah’s figures so far: 8-2-13-4. He has been remarkable today. His variations have deceived the Sri Lankan batsmen to no end today. Sri Lanka 192/7 after 46 overs.

5.35pm: WICKET! Kapugedera is bowled. Axar gets his first wicket off the final ball of his quota of overs. Sri Lanka 181/6 after 44 overs.

5.19pm: WICKET! Bumrah strikes! Thirimanne falls for 80. It’s a soft dismissal. He chips it straight to Jadhav at mid-wicket. He tried to flick it to the leg side, but was early into the shot. The fielder did not have to move an inch. Sri Lanka 159/5.

5.13pm: Bumrah is back and bowls another fine over. His figures so far: 6-2-10-2. He has bowled a tight line and given the hots no quarter. Sri Lanka 150/4 after 38 overs.

5.01pm: WICKET! Jadhav gets a wicket! Mathews is caught plumb in front. Jadhav, bowling his second over of the day gets Mathews to play a false shot. The Sri Lankan tries to play a reverse sweep, but misses the ball completely. He asks for the DRS, but the decision was never going to be changed. The ball is clearly missed the edge and is hitting middle. Sri Lanka 140/4.

4.53pm: Thirimanne smashes the first six of the Sri Lankan innings. They need a few more of those. Before this over, they had scored only 19 runs off the last five overs. The run-rate remains under 4. SL 133/3 after 33 overs.

4.39pm: 50 up for Thirimanne! His 3rd consecutive half-century against India. Has led the fightback for the hosts today. Sri Lanka 112/3.

4.26pm: WICKET! India get the breakthrough. Chandimal perishes trying to clear the fence. He falls for 36. Pandya gets his first wicket. The short delivery finally gets some gains for Pandya. He had put Chandimal in some strain with the delivery early in the innings. This time the batsman tried to swat it away, sadly he could only find the man at deep square leg. Sri Lanka 102/3.

4.22pm: Run-out chance, Rahul throws the ball quickly, but Dhoni fails to collect the ball. Chandimal was well short of the crease. It was a good chance for India to break the partnership. Chandimal called for the run, but Thirimanne said no, Chandimal was struggling to make it back, but Dhoni couldn’t quite get his gloves around the ball.

4.17pm: The game rests on an even keel at the moment. India’s pacers began well, but Sri Lanka’s middle order is staging a fine fightback. The visitors, though, have been sloppy on the field. The misfields have eased the pressure on the batsmen. Sri Lanka 96/2.

4.05pm: Chandimal, Thirimanne add 50 runs for the third wicket. The duo has batted well despite the early blows. They have given the crowd something to cheer about after Bumrah’s fiery spell early on. Sri Lanka 79/2 after 20 overs (Chandimal 28*, Thirimanne 28*).

3.54pm: Chandimal takes a hit to the thumb off Pandya. He is in some pain, but is back on his feet after treatment. Sri Lanka 67/2.

3.46pm: Chandimal and Thirimanne piecing together a stand here. Pandya’s erratic line has helped their cause as well. The duo has added 37 for the third wicket so far. Sri Lanka 65/2.

3.25pm: 50 up for Sri Lanka. After the early strikes, there is a ebb in the game. Chandimal and Thirimanne have done well to keep things quiet. They are pinching the singles as pacers Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar take a breather. Sri Lanka 52/2.

3.25pm: Time for some spin. Chahal is brought in place of Bumrah. The pacer got a spell of five overs. Bhuvneshwar has bowled six overs at the other end. Pandya will take over from him. Sri Lanka 44/2.

3.10pm: WICKET! Rohit Sharma pulls off a fine catch at second slip. Off Bumrah again. Mendis departs trying to swing at a delivery bowled outside off. Sri Lanka 28/2.

2.50pm: WICKET! This time Dickwella is deemed out despite a review. The ball has pitched in line and is hitting the stumps. Two reviews in that Bumrah over. One goes in favour of the batsman, the other doesn’t. Both deliveries were similar to each other. Both had missed the bat, the latter was pitched on the leg stump and did the trick. Dickwella departs for 13. Sri Lanka 18/1.

2.45pm: LBW appeal against Dickwella. The umpire raises his finger, but, review shows the ball has pitched outside leg. The decision is reversed, he bats on.

2.35pm: Sri Lanka 6/0 after the first over.
Kedar Jadav lets a boundary slip on the very first ball of the innings to allow the hosts begin well.

Toss: Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat first.
India will go into the game without any changes to XI that played the first two games in the series. Thirimanne and Chandimal have come into the side with Tharanga suspended and Gunathilaka out injured.

The Teams:
India: Virat Kohli (c), Lokesh Rahul, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal.
Sri Lanka: Chamara Kapugedera (c), Niroshan Dickwella (wk), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Akila Dhananjay, Milinda Siriwardana, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Lasith Malinga.

This is India skipper Virat Kohli’s 300th international game.