Acting head coach Sanath Jayasuriya was extremely happy after Sri Lanka defeated India 2-0 in the 3-match ODI series. On Wednesday, the Sri Lankan team won against India by 110 runs at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, securing the series victory. Additionally, this was the first time in 27 years that Sri Lanka won an international series against India.
In the third ODI, Sri Lanka performed exceptionally well after dismissing the Indian team for 138 runs in 26.1 overs. Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who led the U19 Sri Lankan team in the 2022 World Cup in South Africa, took five wickets.
“I had to wait a long time because in 1997, I played a series and scored many runs. That was the last time we beat India. Now, after 27 years, I’m back on the team, and I’m really happy to be with these young players. They are a great group of talented athletes, and everyone in the country can see what we’re capable of,” Jayasuriya said after the game.
Jayasuriya mentioned that Sri Lanka faced some hard moments in the T20I series they lost. He praised the team for showing strong spirit and making a comeback.
“The boys faced a really tough period. Even though we played well in the T20 series, the results didn’t meet our expectations. When we returned to Colombo, the players understood what had gone wrong and began playing better,” he added.
Choosing to bat first, Avishka Fernando set the stage for Sri Lanka with a score of 96 from 102 balls. He received help from Kusal Mendis, who scored 59 runs. After Avishka and Mendis performed well, it was Wellalage’s chance to shine.
