Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis fifties push Sri Lanka up to 248

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That total could have been higher if not for India’s bowler triggering a middle-overs collapse of 5 for 28

Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando did a lot of the heavy lifting for Sri Lanka  •  Associated Press

Sri Lanka 248 for 7 (Avishka 96, Mendis 59, Parag 3-54) vs India

Avishka Fernando struck 96, Pathum Nissanka 45 and Kusal Mendis 59, as Sri Lanka put up 248 for 7 in the final ODI against India in Colombo, a fighting total but one that could have been so much more had the middle order not failed to turn up for a third game running.

Like so many Sri Lankan contests in recent times, here it was another mini-collapse which turned their position of strength into one of adversity. Having won the toss and opted to bat, Sri Lanka sought to make the best of the conditions. Their first two partnerships contributed 89 and 82 respectively, but like in the first two games, their middle order succumbed swiftly and suddenly. From 171 for 1 they spluttered to 199 for 6; five wickets lost for 28 runs.

From midway through the 36th over when they lost Avishka, up until midway through the 48th – 72 deliveries to be precise – only two boundaries were scored. Sri Lanka managed to scrounge together just 49 runs in the period. And from targeting a score in the region of 280, they were now struggling to reach 250 – arguably a bare minimum on a surface, that while dry had not proved as troubling to bat on as the those from the first two games.

Only Mendis’ late strikes, including a pair of premeditated scoops against Riyan Parag propelled Sri Lanka towards 240. Parag, making his ODI debut, would be in the thick of it throughout, as he finished with innings best figures of 3 for 54.

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