Published By: Sanchari Das

Sri Lankan Top Order Shines Bright: How Batters Took Charge and Claimed the ODI Series Against India

Asalanka's mantra: "Play freely, and victory follows"

Sri Lanka's recent series against India was a revelation. After 27 years, they clinched a series win, a feat achieved on the back of extraordinary spin magic. Charith Asalanka, the Sri Lankan captain, praised his team's top order and their spinners, who decimated India, taking 27 of 30 wickets.

Despite the absence of their star spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, the trio of Jeffrey Vandersay, Dunith Wellalage, and Asalanka himself made their mark. The series saw Sri Lanka bounce back from a T20I drubbing with a blend of freedom and talent, thanks to interim coach Sanath Jayasuriya's supportive environment. Asalanka's mantra: "Play freely, and victory follows."

While the spinners stole the limelight, the contributions from the top order were equally crucial. In the following paragraph, we'll dive into the standout performances of Sri Lanka's top-order batters during their three ODIs against India.

First ODI

In the thrilling first ODI, Sri Lanka and India fought to a standstill, ending at 230 runs. Charith Asalanka played a pivotal role, striking twice in consecutive balls to dismiss Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh, leaving India in a tight spot with just 14 balls remaining.

Sri Lanka's innings featured a crucial contribution from Dunith Wellalage, who scored 67 runs and played a pivotal role after the team had fallen to 101/5. Pathum Nissanka's solid innings (56), which included nine boundaries, provided a strong foundation. Wellalage's resilient knock, featuring seven fours and two sixes, helped Sri Lanka post a competitive total.

India's chase was a rollercoaster, with Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh taking two wickets. Despite their efforts, they couldn't surpass Sri Lanka's score, thanks to Asalanka's crucial late spell. The match ended in a dramatic tie, showcasing both teams' resilience and fighting spirit.

Second ODI

During the second ODI of the series, Sri Lanka delivered a stunning performance, clinching a 32-run victory over India at the R. Premadasa Stadium. Jeffrey Vandersay was the hero, dismantling the Indian top order with a spectacular 6-wicket haul. His scalps included Rohit Sharma, who scored 64, and Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul.

Earlier, Sri Lanka's innings saw a solid but unremarkable start. They reached 240/9, with a fighting knock from Avishka Fernando's 40 runs, Kusal Mendis' 30 runs, and support from Dunith Wellalage's 39 runs. Fernando hammered five boundaries during his innings. Kusal Mendis chipped in with three boundaries. Wellalage added some late fireworks with one boundary and two sixes. Washington Sundar's three-wicket haul was crucial in limiting Sri Lanka's total. With this win, Sri Lanka took a 1-0 series lead, making it impossible for India to win the series with just one match left.

Third ODI

Sri Lanka crushed India by 110 runs to seal the series 2-0. Chasing 249, India faltered spectacularly and bowled out 138 in 26.1 overs. Rohit Sharma (35) and Washington Sundar (30) fought bravely, but Dunith Wellalage's devastating spell of 5/27 dismantled the Indian top order. He dismissed Rohit, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav, leaving India in shambles.

Earlier, Sri Lanka posted 248/7, powered by Avishka Fernando's 96 and Kusal Mendis's 59. Fernando's 102-ball knock included nine boundaries and two sixes, and Mendis smashed four boundaries. Riyan Parag, on his debut, claimed 3/54, including the crucial wicket of Fernando. Mohammad Siraj dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama for a duck, and Axar Patel took the first wicket of Pathum Nissanka. Despite a strong start, India's batting crumbled under the relentless spin attack, leaving them with their first series defeat against Sri Lanka in 27 years.

Captain's point of view

Sri Lanka's top-order performances were pivotal in their series win against India. Avishka Fernando's 96 in the third ODI was a standout effort, and Pathum Nissanka's 101 runs and Kusal Mendis's 103 runs over the series highlighted the strength of Sri Lanka's top order. Charith Asalanka noted that the team had planned for the top order to provide a solid foundation, which proved successful.