SL VS IND 3RD ODI

Right then, not quite a clean sweep from Sri Lanka but 2-0 and a tied game will feel equally good against the number 1 ranked Men's ODI side in India. That also concludes this white ball tour where India swept away the T20 series 3-0 and were then equally humbled in the ODIs. Next up, Sri Lanka will fly to the UK for a Test series against England starting on August 21 whereas India have a bit of an extended break before welcoming Bangladesh for a tour beginning on September 19. We hope you enjoyed our coverage, thanks for tuning in. Until next time then, take care and goodbye!

Charith Asalanka then goes on to collect the series-winning check and trophy and the whole Sri Lankan squad poses buoyantly for a team photo. Also, the groundstaff is given an award as a sign of appreciation.

Charith Asalanka the winning skipper of Sri Lanka collects the winner's cheque and is up for a chat now. He begins by saying that he is a happy captain and appreciates the team for playing well. Says they knew that the Indian batting unit was very strong and that they just backed their strengths and it was the spinners who did the job. With a broad smile, he says the team environment is really positive and the boys are in a good mood.

Rohit Sharma, the captain of India says that the challenge against spin isn't a real concern but the players have to look into their game individually and come up with a few plans. Adds that when you are playing for the nation, there is no complacency and they came out here trying to win every game but were simply outplayed by the opposition and credit needs to be given where it's due. Mentions that taking the pace off the ball was the key and hence, rested the extra pacer and need to look after the players who haven't got an opportunity. Adds that throughout the series, there were a few positives with how the spinners bowled and with how a few of the batters played in that middle order. Goes on to say that all is not lost and it is not the end of the world given how well they have played in the last few years and they are bound to lose a series or so in between.

Dunith Wellalage is the Player of the Series for his invaluable performances with both bat and ball. He scored 106 runs in 3 matches and also scalped 7 wickets. He is up for a quick word and thanks his skipper and coaching staff for supporting him. Says the wicket was turning and it was all about adapting to the conditions. Further tells that they did not make silly mistakes. Also appreciates the batters for batting well.

Avishka Fernando is the Player of the Match for his stellar knock of 96 runs. He starts by saying that he is happy about his knock as the surface was tough and the batters got together and put on a good total. Adds that he faced a few challenges batting on the surface and lets out a bit of a smile while showing disappointment for missing out on a century.

The Presentation ceremony...

Maheesh Theekshana is all smiles and is up for a flash interview. He begins by saying that this series win is surely a confidence booster for his side and the country as a whole. Adds this has been a huge comeback after the T20I series defeat and says winning an ODI series for the first time since 1997 is a special feeling. Is grateful to be the part of this playing XI. Further says that they knew India play at home ground with short boundaries and knew they could make them work more hard on these big grounds and in-form spinners. Ends by saying this is a special series win and a huge confidence booster.

Earlier in the game, for a third time in a row, Rohit Sharma called incorrectly and Sri Lanka batted first, making ample use of the early batting-friendly conditions. The Lankan openers took the bull by the horns and put Mohammed Siraj to the sword inside the Powerplay. Even the spinners weren't able to get an eye in but once Axar Patel got that first wicket, things evened out. Avishka Fernando starred with a brilliant knock of 96 as Kusal Mendis struck a valuable half-century. For India, the spinners bowled well but it was the debutant Riyan Parag who picked up 3 wickets and they just managed to restrict Sri Lanka to under 250 runs. In reply, India huffed and puffed, getting away quickly in the Powerplay thanks to Rohit Sharma but flopped in the middle phase and went on to lose the game by a huge margin.

Let's talk numbers now and they are certainly baffling - 43 wickets fell to the spinners in this three-match series, most in any bilateral series ever and India lost 27 out of their 30 wickets to spin, the most as well for them in a bilateral series, beating the previous record of 19 wickets against Pakistan in 1996 by a big margin.

India have yet again come short in their trial against spin and such has been the norm in recent years but this loss will particularly hurt as a new era under Gautam Gambhir begins with a thumping ODI series defeat against Sri Lanka. India simply didn't turn up with the bat and apart from skipper Rohit Sharma, no one was able to remain positive and muster up runs. Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli looked under-cooked and that middle order simply crumbled under pressure. There was some counter-attack from Washington Sundar way down the order but by then, the game had already slipped out of India's hands.

A monumental day in Sri Lankan cricket as they make it eight home bilateral series unbeaten in ODIs and finally, they managed to get the wood over India. 'Spin to win' was the mantra throughout this series but the Lankan batters need to be applauded equally as they put on fighting scores in all three games which allowed their spinners to come to the fore and boy, they did and how! Dunith Wellalage finished the game with a five-wicket haul and was certainly the standout player of this series. Asitha Fernando bowled a lovely spell up top as well and the likes of Maheesh Theekshana and Jeffrey Vandersay were able to chip in with a couple of wickets as well.

SRI LANKA SCRIPT HISTORY AS THEY BEAT INDIA IN A BILATERAL SERIES AFTER 27 YEARS! This has been a long time coming and Sri Lankan players can now simply rejoice and soak in the roaring applause from the crowd, beating the ODI World Cup runners-up and T20 World Cup Champions in front of their home crowd for the first time in the 21st century. A 110-run victory against the Asian giants and when was the last time, we saw India lose an ODI game by more than 100 runs? Not in recent memory for sure.

OUT! LBW! HISTORY HAS BEEN SCRIPTED AT THE 'KHETTARAMA'! And the 27-year long wait has finally come to an end for Sri Lanka. Dunith Wellalage hustles from around the stumps and dishes out a flighted conventional off-break around the middle and off stump line. Kuldeep Yadav sits down on his knee to sweep it away but completely misses and plays over the line of the ball, wearing it on the front pad and right in front of the pegs. Joel Wilson raises up his finger and the crowd erupts in delight and pride as Sri Lanka beat India by a huge margin of 110 runs. The hosts seal the series by 2-0. And in all fairness to say, the Lankan spinners have outnumbered the Indian batters in this ODI series. Dunith Wellalage finish off with a spectacular 5-fer.

OUT! LBW! HISTORY HAS BEEN SCRIPTED AT THE 'KHETTARAMA'! And the 27-year long wait has finally come to an end for Sri Lanka. Dunith Wellalage hustles from around the stumps and dishes out a flighted conventional off-break around the middle and off stump line. Kuldeep Yadav sits down on his knee to sweep it away but completely misses and plays over the line of the ball, wearing it on the front pad and right in front of the pegs. Joel Wilson raises up his finger and the crowd erupts in delight and pride as Sri Lanka beat India by a huge margin of 110 runs. The hosts seal the series by 2-0. And in all fairness to say, the Lankan spinners have outnumbered the Indian batters in this ODI series. Dunith Wellalage finish off with a spectacular 5-fer.

Mohammed Siraj is the last man in for India. Sri Lanka is on the brink of creating history at the iconic Premadasa.

OUT! CAUGHT! Jeffrey Vandersay hangs onto the catch on the second attempt and Sri Lanka have the wicket they wanted. Maheesh Theekshana flights the ball up on a dragged length around off stump and draws Washington Sundar forward. Sundar leans on and looks to loft it away but has to reach for it and ends up skiing it over mid off. Vandersay comes in from the long off fence and moves to his right before fumbling the ball but he manages to regain composure and snatches it on the second attempt. Sundar departs after a fighting knock and Sri Lanka are one wicket away from victory.