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Fernando leads Sri Lanka to win over India

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Avishka Fernando on his way to a half-century in Sri Lanka's consolation ODI win over India.
Camera IconAvishka Fernando on his way to a half-century in Sri Lanka's consolation ODI win over India. Credit: AP

Sri Lanka have earned a consolation three-wicket win against a second-string India in their third and last one-day international after Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa hit half-centuries.

It was Sri Lanka's first win over India in a bilateral series game in nine years and 10 matches.

India, having already won the series, gave debuts to five players on Friday but after opting to bat first, were bowled out for 225 in the 44th over.

The game was shortened to 47 overs each after nearly 90 minutes were lost due to rain during India's innings, with Sri Lanka having to score 227 under the Duckworth/Lewis rules.

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Thy duly reached 7-227 with 11 overs to spare, opener Fernando being their hero with his 76 off 98 deliveries.

He was sixth out, 13 runs short of the target, after his fifth career half-century included four boundaries and a six.

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Rajapaksa hit 12 boundaries in his 65 - his maiden ODI half-century off 56 deliveries - and he and Fernando combined for 109 for the second wicket.

But when Rajapaksa was out to a sliding catch by Krishnappa Gowtham, Sri Lanka lost a flurry of wickets.

Legspinner Rahul Chahar, in his first ODI, took 3-54 including Fernando, but the latter had the win set up.

Earlier, Sri Lanka spinners Akila Dananjaya and newcomer Praveen Jayawickrama took three wickets each to restrict India to a modest 225.

Opener Prithvi Shaw top scored with 49, Sanju Samson made 46 and Suryakumar Yadav 40 but India struggled after being 3-157 and ended up being bowled out 19 overs later.

The teams will now clash in a three-match Twenty20 series in Colombo beginning on Sunday.

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