Thirimanne helps Sri Lanka post 217/9 vs India in 3rd ODI

A patient stabilising innings by middle-order batsman Lahiru Thirimanne helped Sri Lanka post 217/9 against India in their third One Day International at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

Apart from Thirimanne (80 runs off 108 balls), Dinesh Chandimal (36) contributed to the cause for the hosts.

Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat hoping to capitalise upon the overcast conditions. But it appeared as if their batsman had not learnt any lesson from their previous defeats as many in-form and experienced batters were dismissed while playing carelessly.

Apart from Thirimanne and Chandimal, no other batsman applied themselves sensibly and thus were dismissed on sloppy shots.

India, too, were a little sloppy on the field but unlike other matches pace bowlers also contributed handsomely this time around.

Top-order batsmen Niroshan Dickwella (13) and Kusal Mendis (1) failed to support Chandimal at the other end and were sent packing early and the scoreboard read 28/2.

Middle-order batsmen Angelo Mathews (11) and Chamara Kapugedera (14) also returned to the pavilion without adding much to the team's score.

Milinda Siriwardana (29), however, tried to stabilise the innings but just when things seemed a little good for the hosts, rain played the spoilsport for a few minutes.

After the resumption of play, the hosts failed to continue the momentum as Siriwardana was removed quickly by Jasprit Bumrah to leave the hosts reeling at 201/8.

Lower-order batsmen -- Akila Dananjaya (1), Dushmantha Chameera (6) and Vishwa Fernando (3) -- then tried to pace up the innings but failed in doing so and the hosts were restricted to 217 runs.

For India, pacer Bumrah scalped five wickets while Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Kedar Jadhav chipped in with one wicket each.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 217/9 (Lahiru Thirimanne 80; Jasprit Bumrah 5/25) against India.

--IANS

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