ICC World Cup Super League Points: Sri Lanka Rise From The Bottom Spot By Winning Their Second Game

Sri Lanka won only their second One-day international this year and captured an invaluable ten points in the ICC World Cup Super League. Sri Lanka clinched a victory by three wickets in the third and final ODI in Colombo to keep themselves in contention for an automatic 50-over World Cup qualification, getting rid of the bottom spot. The hosts overcame a minor wobble to chase a tricky score of 227 within 47 overs successfully.

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Sri Lanka did exceptionally well to restrict India to 225 after losing the toss for the first time in the three-match series. India, who started breezily, looked on track for over 300 until rain halted their progress. India restarted at 147-3 from 23 overs and had 24 more to bat. However, their downfall started from the second over after the rain-induced break. Akila Dananjaya and Praveen Jayawickrama took three wickets each, spinning a web around India’s middle-order.

Right-hander Avishka Fernando was the aggressor in the 35-run opening stand between Minod Bhanuka. After the latter’s departure, Fernando added 109 with Bhanuka Rajapaksa, making the run-chase look like a cakewalk. But India kept chipping away as leggie Rahul Chahar recovered from a slightly expensive first six overs to take three wickets. Chahar’s three wickets also included Avishka Fernando’s scalp, but he had done enough by then. The hosts’ nervy run-chase completed with eight overs and three wickets to spare.

With ten more points, Sri Lanka rose above Zimbabwe and Netherlands in the ICC World Cup Super League: