India win series 2-1


Karthik finshes things off with a superb shot. India chase down 216 with 8 wickets in hand and a healthy 17.5 overs to spare to take the three-match ODI series 2-1.


12th ODI ton for Dhawan


What a way to get to your hundred! Dhawan just flat bats that to the square leg bundary and raises his arms. His 12th ODI hundred. Yes, we've seen that smile before.


4000 for Dhawan



That's 4000 ODI runs for Shikhar Dhawan. He is the 15th Indian to do so and the 6th quickest in the world in just 95 inns. The quickest is South Africa's Hashim Amla. 



Iyer departs


Oh No! Iyer has thrown it away once again. A hundred was there on offer, all he needed to do was bat sensibly. He Tries an expansive shot backing away but ends up getitng a top edge to get dismissed for 65. IND: 150/2


Dhawan joins Iyer






Iyer gets to 50


How good a player is Shreyas Iyer? As smooth an innings as you can wish for. Successive half-centuries for the Mumbai lad. He is sure to create some selection headaches once Virat Kohli returns. 


50 up for India


That's 50 for India. Shreyas Iyer and Shikhar Dhawan have steadied India after the early loss of Rohit Sharma.


A six and out


What a comeback by Akela Dananjaya. After being clobbered for a monsterous six by Rohit Sharma, he gets one to sneak between bat and pad of the Indian captain. The move has worked for Sri Lanka, they have got the early breakthrough and that too of the oppsition captain. IND: 14/1


A stunning comeback by the Indians led by their wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. They have made sure India will head into the break as the happier side.


After being asked to bat, Sri Lanka lost Gunathilaka early but that didn't seem to hamper their aggressive approach at all. Upul Tharanga and Sadeera Samarawickrama started to attack and took everyone by surprise. They shared a 121-run stand before the latter departed. Still the visitors were going great guns, but the wicket of Tharanga just changed the complexion of the game. From 160-2, they got wrapped up for a paltry 215, losing 6 wickets for just 55 runs after the departure of the southpaw.


For India, both Kuldeep and Chahal returned with three-fors. 


Bhuvneshwar drills the last nail in the coffin


OUT! Caught, Asela Gunaratne is the last man to be dismissed fore 17. He ran out of partners to be honest. India have bowled Sri Lanka out for 215.


BOWLED!


Plays all around it. That was too full to play the sweep shot and Danajaya (1) pays the price. Kuldeep gets his third of the day. Boy he is a wicket-taker isn't he?


Pathirana departs


That's a nothing shot really. That has been the story of the day for Sri Lanka, one shot too many. A slower one from Hardik Pandya foxes Sachith Pathirana, who was guilty of trying to go for the big one. Sri Lanka seven down for 208.


Chahal double strike puts SL in trouble


First  Mathews, then Perera, Chahal takes over form Kuldeep. Sri Lanka have given away their superb start. Credit must be given to the Indian spinners also. Sri Lanka are six down now.


OUT! Dickwella walks back!


Kuldeep sends two Lankans back in the hut. SL 168/4 (27.5)


Tharanga misses century by a whisker, Departs on 95. MS Dhoni's brilliance behind the stumps help India with another wicket. Kuldeep gets his first wicket.


Tharanga completes 1,000 ODI runs in 2017


Now, Mathews takes the charge, goes for a maximum. Pandya is turning out to be expensive for the hosts.


Mathews comes in to bat


Out! Chahal strikes!


The leg-spinner breaks the 121-run stand, Sadeera departs for 42. SL 136/2 (23 overs)


SL 129/1 (21 overs). Upul Tharanga 79 (64), Sadeera Samarawickrama 35 (50)


DROPPED!


Sadeera comes down the track and tries to flick it over mid-wicket. He does not get the elevation desired. The ball goes towards Dinesh Karthik who jumps high and tries to take it but can't.


Tharanga and Samarawickrama stitch 100-run stand between them. The visitors going strong on 117/1 in (19.1 overs)


SL 100/1 (17 overs). Upul Tharanga 59 (51), Sadeera Samarawickrama 27 (39)


Have India missed on an opportunity to break this partnership? Samarawickrama is struck on the front pad but India have decided not to review. The replay shows three reds and yes, a review could have sent Sadeera back to the pavillion.


SL 81/1(13 overs). Upul Tharanga 53 (40), Sadeera Samarawickrama 14 (26)


Classy half-ton from Tharanga!


The former Lankan skipper completes his 36th ODI fifty. Sri Lanka off to a solid start


SL 68/1 (10 overs). 


4,4,4,4,4


FOUR! 5 in a row! Upul Tharanga goes behind Pandya.


Bumrah gets his man!


Jasprit Bumrah sends Gunathilaka packing. The Lankan fails to get the desired connection and mistimes it to the mid-on. Indian skipper makes no mistake. India get an early breakthrough. SL 15/1 (4 overs)


Bumrah to bowl from the other end. he has two slips in place


SL 5/0 (1 over). Gunathilaka 5(4), Tharanga 0(2)


Gunathilaka gets going with a boundary


The players are out in the middle. Danushka Gunathilaka and Upul Tharanga to open for the visitors while, Bhuvneshwar to start with the ball for India


TOSS


India skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bowl first the series decider in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.


Rohit Sharma, who stunned the cricketing world with a thunderous double in the second match, will aim to clinch his first-ever series win as a captain of the Indian team.


After his debut in the second game, Washington Sundar misses out due to sickness and chinaman Kuldeep Yadav replace in the Indian playing XI


Sri Lanka, on the other, will have a chance to win their first ever bilateral series in India, having lost eight and drawn one.


The visitors have made one change from their defeat to India in Chandigarh. Lahiru Thirimanne makes way for Sadeera Samarawickrama


The Indian team has lost only once at the venue in the seven games played here (with one being washed out) and will hope to keep winning on what has generally been a high-scoring ground.


Match preview


An imposing line-up and an impeccable record in this port city make India the clear favourites as they seek to clinch another series win against Sri Lanka in the third and final One-day International on Sunday.


India have not lost a series at home since the defeat to South Africa in October 2015.


Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are seeking to win their first ever bilateral series in India, having lost eight and drawn one.


Skipper Rohit Sharma led the fightback for India in Mohali with a superb double century, his third in ODIs after the team had been outplayed in the series opener in Dharamsala. Sharma and his men will look to ride the momentum after a big win in the second game and seal the series at the ACA-VDCA stadium.


The Indian team has lost only once at the venue in the seven games played here (with one being washed out) and will hope to keep winning on what has generally been a high-scoring ground.


Defeat in Dharamsala meant India can't overtake South Africa in the ICC ODI rankings but a series win is at stake. Rohit & Co will look to maintain supremacy over the visiting Lankans, having won the Test series earlier.


The India captain will look to continue the good work anddomination of the Lankan attack while the other batsmen will also hope to be among runs. After being shot out for 112 in Dharamshala, the host batting line-up regained its mojo as Rohit led from the front.


With Shikhar Dhawan chipping in with a half-century and the young Shreyas Iyer announcing himself on the big stage with a knock of 88 in the second ODI, the Indian batting seems to be back in form and would be expected to supply the runs in the series decider.


The top-order's performance could prove crucial for the home team if it has to continue its dominance.


Also, the middle-order comprising Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey will love to be among the runs as would Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Hardik Pandya. It also looks like Ajinkya Rahane would remain on the sidelines unless the think-tank opts to pick him ahead of either Pandey or Karthik.


The bowlers have looked the part so far and will aim to continue the good work on what is likely to be a batsman- friendly wicket, going by the records.


And, the importance of bowling well in the first 10 overs can't be over-emphasised and the lead bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah would be well aware of this as would Lanka's spearhead Suranga Lakmal.


The visitors, buoyed by news about the availability of ace all-rounder Angelo Mathews for the crucial game, will be give it their all to snatch a much-needed series win, in what has been a tough year for them.


Mathews scored a ton, albeit in a losing cause in Mohali and will be the lynchpin of the batting unit, which is short on experience, as the squad aims to secure a rare series win in India.


The Lankans were brought crashing down to earth after a good win at Dharamsala as Rohit went on the rampage and their batsmen capitulated under the pressure of chasing a mammoth score. Mathews' return to form must be heartening news for them as is the fact that he is bowling some overs, and with a degree of success too.


Upul Tharanga, among the more experienced batsmen in the line-up, needs to step up and make a bigger contribution to the team's cause. The other batters including Lahiru Thirimanne, Danusha Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella, have been inconsistent and will have to find ways to make sizeable scores.


The bowers, on the other hand, will look to recover quickly from the horror show as Rohit turned on the heat. Nuwan Pradeep, who was taken for 106 in 10 overs, will look for redemption if he retains his place in the XI while Suranga Lakmal, the hero of the win at Dharamsala, holds the key for Lanka.


Spinners of both teams haven't had a great time in the ODIs and could be under pressure to keep the runs down in Visakhapatnam, where big scores have been the norm.


While India are unlikely to tinker with the XI that won in Mohali, the visiting side may consider bringing the pacy Dushmantha Chameera in place of Pradeep.


The last ODI played here against New Zealand, saw India romp home to a big win.


Teams (from): India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Manish Pandey, M S Dhoni (WK), Hardik Pandya, M S Washington Sundar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Ajinkya Rahane, Axar Patel, Siddarth Kaul.


Sri Lanka: Thisara Perera (captain), Upul Tharanga, Danusha Gunathilaka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Asela Gunaratne, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Niroshan Dickwella (WK), Dhananjaya de Silva, Angelo Matthews, Sachith Pathirana, Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep, Akila Dhanajaya, Chathuranga de Silva, Dushmantha Chameera, Kusal Perera.