Charith Asalanka credits spinners, top-order for memorable series win against India

Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka gave credit to the spinners and the top order for a memorable series win against India. Sri Lanka won an ODI series against India after a long wait of 27 years, with the last win coming back in 1997.

The hosts won the third ODI against India by a huge margin of 110 runs at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Wednesday to take the series by 2-0.

Sri Lankan spinners were right on the money and delivered the goods for the team. Jeffrey Vandersay, who replaced Wanindu Hasaranga in the squad, picked eight wickets in two matches, including a six-wicket haul in the second game. Furthermore, Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka picked seven and six wickets respectively in three matches of the series.

On the other hand, Pathum Nissanka scored 101 runs in the series whereas Avishka Fernando amassed 137 runs, including a fine knock of 96 runs in the final game. Moreover, Kusal Mendis scored 103 runs in three matches of the series.

Sri Lanka was beaten by 3-0 in the T20I series but they were able to bounce back strongly in the ODI series.

“After Pallekele I was very dejected,” Asalanka, speaking after Sri Lanka’s 110-run win in the third ODI, said of the 3-0 loss in the T20I series. “As a captain and a player, I’m desperate to win for the country. Today I’m so happy we were able to win a series. Having lost 3-0 in the T20s, we defeated an even stronger team in the ODIs. I’m happy with the way everyone in the team played.”

Speaking on the biggest positive, Asalanka said, “The biggest positive was winning a series against India after 27 years. The other positives were the spinners. We had relied on Wanindu Hasaranga, but we’ve had [Jeffrey] Vandersay and Dunith [Wellalage] playing well here too. Also the top order batted well through the series. On difficult pitches like this, that’s a big plus point.”

Asalanka hailed Avishka Fernando for playing a match-winning knock of 96 runs in the third ODI to help his team post a par score of 248 runs on the board on a difficult pitch.

“Today that was really successful, as Avishka Fernando got to 96, which isn’t easy on a pitch like this. But the coaching staff and me as the captain gave that challenge to the batsmen, including me. If you look through the series the middle order was a little hit and miss, but the top order was successful, so we were able to get to those targets,” said Asalanka.

“The more games we play the more experience we get. There are big changes. The top order gave great starts and that’s the biggest change. If you look at our one-day cricket two or three years ago we weren’t getting good starts. As the No. 5 batter, I was coming in at the 10-over mark quite frequently. But now there’s a foundation, and that’s a sign of us maturing.”

Sri Lanka will now tour England for a three-match Test series.