India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third one-day international in Pallekele to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.

Chasing 218 for victory, India rode on an unbeaten 157-run stand between Rohit Sharma (124) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (67) to achieve the target with 29 balls to spare.

The match was marred by unruly crowd behaviour, with play stopped for over 30 minutes as players walked off the field with India needing eight runs to win.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah claimed his maiden five-wicket haul to help restrict Sri Lanka for 217-9 despite Lahiru Thirimanne's half-century

India beat Sri Lanka by six wickets in the third one-day international in Pallekele to take a 3-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday. Chasing 218 for victory, India rode on an unbeaten 157-run stand between Rohit Sharma (124) and Mahendra Singh Dhoni (67) to achieve the target with 29 balls to spare. The match was marred by unruly crowd behaviour, with play stopped for over 30 minutes as players walked off the field with India needing eight runs to win.

India beat Sri Lanka to clinch ODI series

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar anchored India&#39;s&nbsp;chase after a stunning batting collapse as the visitors edged past Sri Lanka by three wickets in the second one-day international Thursday.

Leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya returned career-best figures of 6-54 to make India stutter at 131-7 while chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 231 in 47 overs in Pallekele.

Dhoni, who scored 45, then put on an unbeaten 100-run stand with Kumar, who made 53, to steer the team home in 44.2 overs and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

&quot;Quite an exciting game of cricket...Something that gave us a tough test but good to come through eventually,&quot; India skipper Virat Kohli said at the presentation.

&quot;Quite magnificent to see two 100-run partnerships in a chase of 230 (231) and a collapse in between - seven wickets down. you don`t quite see that in this game too often,&quot; he added.

India lost seven wickets for 22 runs after a 109-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and in-form Shikhar Dhawan.

Man of the match Dananjaya, who was one of the three changes in the team`s starting lineup, drew first blood after trapping Sharma lbw for 54.&nbsp;

Dhawan, who hit a match-winning 132 in the opening ODI in Dambulla, soon joined his partner in the pavilion after falling to left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana for 49.

The left-handed batsman was done in by a superb catch by former captain Angelo Mathews at short-fine leg.The 23-year-old Dananjaya then turned on the heat against the number-three ODI side with his googly.

He got Kedar Jadhav, Kohli and Lokesh Rahul bowled in his fourth over to take some steam out of the Indian chase.

&quot;What we knew of him was more of an off-spinner bowling the odd leg-break, but he picks up four wickets on googlys. It`s difficult when you haven`t seen the guy at all,&quot; said Kohli.

&quot;Now we are more wary...but credit to him he capitalised on the bit of hesitation we had out there in the middle,&quot; Kohli, who was out after hitting a boundary off Dananjaya, added.

Dananjaya, who made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Hambantota in 2012, was on song as he kept making inroads with the wickets of Hardik Pandya, who injured his hamstring while bowling, and Axar Patel.

But ice cool Dhoni kept the chase on track with the gutsy Kumar, who had gone wicketless during his spell as the team&#39;s pace spearhead.

While Dhoni kept picking the singles and twos, Kumar was happy playing second fiddle before unleashing his power and register his maiden ODI fifty.

&quot;Disappointed, we came really close and we couldn`t finish it,&quot; Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga said after the loss.

&quot;Once they needed 100 runs, we tried everything. Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar batted sensibly. Unlucky we didn`t get that wicket,&quot; he added.

Earlier the left-handed Siriwardana, coming in to bat at number six, hit a gritty 58 to lift Sri Lanka to 236-8 in 50 overs after being put into bat.

Siriwardana put on a crucial 91-run sixth-wicket stand with Chamara Kapugedara, who made 40, after the hosts were in trouble at 121-5 against a disciplined Indian attack.

Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got two.

The third match is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue. 
&nbsp;

Leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya returned career-best figures of 6-54 to make India stutter at 131-7 while chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 231 in 47 overs in Pallekele

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar anchored India's chase after a stunning batting collapse as the visitors edged past Sri Lanka by three wickets in the second one-day international Thursday. Leg-spinner Akila Dananjaya returned career-best figures of 6-54 to make India stutter at 131-7 while chasing a Duckworth-Lewis revised target of 231 in 47 overs in Pallekele. Dhoni, who scored 45, then put on an unbeaten 100-run stand with Kumar, who made 53, to steer the team home in 44.2 overs and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. "Quite an exciting game of cricket...Something that gave us a tough test but good to come through eventually," India skipper Virat Kohli said at the presentation. "Quite magnificent to see two 100-run partnerships in a chase of 230 (231) and a collapse in between - seven wickets down. you don`t quite see that in this game too often," he added. India lost seven wickets for 22 runs after a 109-run opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and in-form Shikhar Dhawan. Man of the match Dananjaya, who was one of the three changes in the team`s starting lineup, drew first blood after trapping Sharma lbw for 54. Dhawan, who hit a match-winning 132 in the opening ODI in Dambulla, soon joined his partner in the pavilion after falling to left-arm spinner Milinda Siriwardana for 49. The left-handed batsman was done in by a superb catch by former captain Angelo Mathews at short-fine leg.The 23-year-old Dananjaya then turned on the heat against the number-three ODI side with his googly. He got Kedar Jadhav, Kohli and Lokesh Rahul bowled in his fourth over to take some steam out of the Indian chase. "What we knew of him was more of an off-spinner bowling the odd leg-break, but he picks up four wickets on googlys. It`s difficult when you haven`t seen the guy at all," said Kohli. "Now we are more wary...but credit to him he capitalised on the bit of hesitation we had out there in the middle," Kohli, who was out after hitting a boundary off Dananjaya, added. Dananjaya, who made his ODI debut against New Zealand at Hambantota in 2012, was on song as he kept making inroads with the wickets of Hardik Pandya, who injured his hamstring while bowling, and Axar Patel. But ice cool Dhoni kept the chase on track with the gutsy Kumar, who had gone wicketless during his spell as the team's pace spearhead. While Dhoni kept picking the singles and twos, Kumar was happy playing second fiddle before unleashing his power and register his maiden ODI fifty. "Disappointed, we came really close and we couldn`t finish it," Sri Lanka skipper Upul Tharanga said after the loss. "Once they needed 100 runs, we tried everything. Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar batted sensibly. Unlucky we didn`t get that wicket," he added. Earlier the left-handed Siriwardana, coming in to bat at number six, hit a gritty 58 to lift Sri Lanka to 236-8 in 50 overs after being put into bat. Siriwardana put on a crucial 91-run sixth-wicket stand with Chamara Kapugedara, who made 40, after the hosts were in trouble at 121-5 against a disciplined Indian attack. Fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah took four wickets while leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal got two. The third match is scheduled for Sunday at the same venue.

Cricket: India beat Sri Lanka in 2nd ODI

India&rsquo;s Hardik Pandya scored his maiden Test century on Sunday during the second day of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and India.

The&nbsp;23-year-old scored 100 off 86 balls.&nbsp;The session belonged to Pandya, who built crucial partnerships including a 62-run eight-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav.

Pandya finally succumbed to spinner Lakshan Sandakan on the third ball of the second session as India&#39;s innings ended without adding to the lunch total.

&quot;It was an ideal opportunity and obviously there was a team&#39;s goal which was to get them a 400-run target and we scored close to 490. I was taking a calculative risk,&quot; Pandya told reporters.

&quot;I am pretty lucky to have such a team and such people who are supporting me and backing me all out,&quot; Pandya, who made his Test debut in the series opener in Galle, added.

Kuldeep, another Indian rookie, then flattened the Sri Lankan batting in the hosts&#39; first innings, returning impressive figures of 4-40 in just his second Test.

India were all out for 487 in the first over after lunch.

Pandya was out&nbsp;for 108.

Kuldeep, another Indian rookie, then flattened the Sri Lankan batting in the hosts&#39; first innings, returning impressive figures of 4-40 in just his second Test.

The 22-year-old turned on the heat to rattle the middle order and combined with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to wipe out the tail in the final session.

Sri Lanka were 19-1 at stumps on day two, still trailing India by 333 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne on 12 and nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara on nought were at the crease. 
 
India are eyeing a series sweep after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in Colombo.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Wow ! What an incredible century by <a href="https://twitter.com/hardikpandya7">@hardikpandya7</a> . Well done mere KungFu Pandya. Mazaa aa gaya.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSL?src=hash">#INDvSL</a>
&mdash; Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/virendersehwag/status/896626395270438913">August 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Hardik Pandya now 81st batsman to make 483rd Test century for India!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SLvInd?src=hash">#SLvInd</a>
&mdash; Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mohanstatsman/status/896628420653625344">August 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Loving this from Hardik Pandya. Sensational hitting. India are blessed to have him. X- factor.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/INDvSL?src=hash">#INDvSL</a>
&mdash; Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) <a href="https://twitter.com/MohammadKaif/status/896620049439399941">August 13, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

India’s Hardik Pandya scored his maiden Test century on Sunday during the second day of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and India. The 23-year-old scored 100 off 86 balls. The session belonged to Pandya, who built crucial partnerships including a 62-run eight-wicket stand with Kuldeep Yadav. Pandya finally succumbed to spinner Lakshan Sandakan on the third ball of the second session as India's innings ended without adding to the lunch total. "It was an ideal opportunity and obviously there was a team's goal which was to get them a 400-run target and we scored close to 490. I was taking a calculative risk," Pandya told reporters. "I am pretty lucky to have such a team and such people who are supporting me and backing me all out," Pandya, who made his Test debut in the series opener in Galle, added. Kuldeep, another Indian rookie, then flattened the Sri Lankan batting in the hosts' first innings, returning impressive figures of 4-40 in just his second Test. India were all out for 487 in the first over after lunch. Pandya was out for 108. Kuldeep, another Indian rookie, then flattened the Sri Lankan batting in the hosts' first innings, returning impressive figures of 4-40 in just his second Test. The 22-year-old turned on the heat to rattle the middle order and combined with fellow spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to wipe out the tail in the final session. Sri Lanka were 19-1 at stumps on day two, still trailing India by 333 runs. Dimuth Karunaratne on 12 and nightwatchman Malinda Pushpakumara on nought were at the crease. India are eyeing a series sweep after taking an unassailable 2-0 lead in Colombo. Wow ! What an incredible century by @hardikpandya7 . Well done mere KungFu Pandya. Mazaa aa gaya.#INDvSL — Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 13, 2017 × Hardik Pandya now 81st batsman to make 483rd Test century for India!#SLvInd — Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 13, 2017 × Loving this from Hardik Pandya. Sensational hitting. India are blessed to have him. X- factor.#INDvSL — Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 13, 2017 ×

India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 2: Pandya gets maiden Test 100

Shikhar Dhawan continued his golden run but a rare flop show from the famed middle-order saw Sri Lanka restrict India to 329 for 6 here on the first day of third cricket Test.

Courtesy Dhawan&#39;s (119) sixth Test hundred and a record 18-run opening stand with KL Rahul (85), India looked good for a score close to 400 after opting to bat.

However, some fine bowling in the final two sessions by left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara (3/40 in 18 overs) and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan (2/84 in 25 overs) helped Sri Lanka gain some foothold when stumps were drawn on the opening day.

The in-form Cheteshwar Pujara (8), last Test&#39;s centurion Ajinkya Rahane (17) were dismissed cheaply while skipper Virat Kohli (42) was dismissed after getting set.

However, Kohli had been reaching out to play the spinners from his crease and ended up edging the ball to first slip off Sandakan in the 79th over.

Ravichandran Ashwin (31) looked compact but became left- arm seamer Vishwa Fernando&#39;s scalp at the fag end of the day.

Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha (13 batting), who survived a DRS appeal for caught behind, then brought up India&#39;s 300 in the 81st over even as the visitors were in dire need of a partnership to make their morning advantage count.

The duo added 26 runs for the 6th wicket and negotiated the second new ball properly as well. But Ashwin was caught behind off Fernando, two overs before stumps leaving India with more work to do on the second day.

Earlier, it was yet another solid start from Dhawan and Rahul as they bettered the highest opening stand against Sri Lanka in away Tests, going past the 173-run stand between Manoj Prabhakar and Navjot Sidhu during the 1993 series.

Rahul missed out on another Test hundred, miscuing one straight to Dimuth Karunaratne at mid-on off left-arm spinner Pushpakumara in the 40th over. His 135-ball knock had eight fours.

Dhawan though stayed and scored his second hundred of this series off 107 balls. He added 31 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara (8) but the latter did not look very comfortable despite good batting conditions.

Dhawan was caught at square leg, thanks to a leaping effort from skipper Dinesh Chandimal, a second dismissal against the run of play as he was just looking to cut loose with a flurry of boundaries.

Dhawan faced 123 balls in his knock and punished the home bowlers with 17 boundaries.

Pujara&#39;s discomfort at the crease came to an end as he was caught at first slip off Sandakan in the 51st over.

He put on only 10 runs with Kohli as India were left to rebuild their innings despite being in a comfortable position.

Earlier, Dhawan, who scored at a brisk pace, and Rahul settled down quickly on an easy-paced wicket with true bounce.

Paceman Lahiru Kumara was very expensive in his first six overs, leaking 41 runs while Fernando also could not keep the batsmen in check. So much so that Karunaratne had to be introduced early into the attack and was the best Lankan bowler on display in the morning session.

The opening duo brought up its 50-partnership off just 55 balls in the 10th over and kept up this pace of scoring to reach 100 off 107 balls in the 18th over.

They remained in control even when the hosts introduced spin into the attack in the form of Dilruwan Perera.

For Rahul, it was his seventh successive fifty in Test cricket overtaking Gundapppa Viswanath and Rahul Dravid (both with six half-centuries each).

With Yadav and Sandakan featuring in the match, it is only the second time since 2004 when two &quot;chinaman&quot; bowlers are playing in the same game after Dave Mohammed (West Indies) and Paul Adams (South Africa) at Cape Town.

The in-form Cheteshwar Pujara (8), last Test's centurion Ajinkya Rahane (17) were dismissed cheaply while skipper Virat Kohli (42) was dismissed after getting set

Shikhar Dhawan continued his golden run but a rare flop show from the famed middle-order saw Sri Lanka restrict India to 329 for 6 here on the first day of third cricket Test. Courtesy Dhawan's (119) sixth Test hundred and a record 18-run opening stand with KL Rahul (85), India looked good for a score close to 400 after opting to bat. However, some fine bowling in the final two sessions by left-arm spinner Malinda Pushpakumara (3/40 in 18 overs) and chinaman Lakshan Sandakan (2/84 in 25 overs) helped Sri Lanka gain some foothold when stumps were drawn on the opening day. The in-form Cheteshwar Pujara (8), last Test's centurion Ajinkya Rahane (17) were dismissed cheaply while skipper Virat Kohli (42) was dismissed after getting set. However, Kohli had been reaching out to play the spinners from his crease and ended up edging the ball to first slip off Sandakan in the 79th over. Ravichandran Ashwin (31) looked compact but became left- arm seamer Vishwa Fernando's scalp at the fag end of the day. Ashwin and Wriddhiman Saha (13 batting), who survived a DRS appeal for caught behind, then brought up India's 300 in the 81st over even as the visitors were in dire need of a partnership to make their morning advantage count. The duo added 26 runs for the 6th wicket and negotiated the second new ball properly as well. But Ashwin was caught behind off Fernando, two overs before stumps leaving India with more work to do on the second day. Earlier, it was yet another solid start from Dhawan and Rahul as they bettered the highest opening stand against Sri Lanka in away Tests, going past the 173-run stand between Manoj Prabhakar and Navjot Sidhu during the 1993 series. Rahul missed out on another Test hundred, miscuing one straight to Dimuth Karunaratne at mid-on off left-arm spinner Pushpakumara in the 40th over. His 135-ball knock had eight fours. Dhawan though stayed and scored his second hundred of this series off 107 balls. He added 31 runs with Cheteshwar Pujara (8) but the latter did not look very comfortable despite good batting conditions. Dhawan was caught at square leg, thanks to a leaping effort from skipper Dinesh Chandimal, a second dismissal against the run of play as he was just looking to cut loose with a flurry of boundaries. Dhawan faced 123 balls in his knock and punished the home bowlers with 17 boundaries. Pujara's discomfort at the crease came to an end as he was caught at first slip off Sandakan in the 51st over. He put on only 10 runs with Kohli as India were left to rebuild their innings despite being in a comfortable position. Earlier, Dhawan, who scored at a brisk pace, and Rahul settled down quickly on an easy-paced wicket with true bounce. Paceman Lahiru Kumara was very expensive in his first six overs, leaking 41 runs while Fernando also could not keep the batsmen in check. So much so that Karunaratne had to be introduced early into the attack and was the best Lankan bowler on display in the morning session. The opening duo brought up its 50-partnership off just 55 balls in the 10th over and kept up this pace of scoring to reach 100 off 107 balls in the 18th over. They remained in control even when the hosts introduced spin into the attack in the form of Dilruwan Perera. For Rahul, it was his seventh successive fifty in Test cricket overtaking Gundapppa Viswanath and Rahul Dravid (both with six half-centuries each). With Yadav and Sandakan featuring in the match, it is only the second time since 2004 when two "chinaman" bowlers are playing in the same game after Dave Mohammed (West Indies) and Paul Adams (South Africa) at Cape Town.

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test: Dhawan, Rahul keep Lanka at bay

india-vs-sri-lanka

India Vs Sri Lanka, News on India Vs Sri Lanka, stories on India Vs Sri Lanka, articles on India Vs Sri Lanka, India Vs Sri Lanka stories at Wion, India Vs Sri Lanka news, India Vs Sri Lanka latest news

india vs-sri-lanka

India beat Sri Lanka to clinch ODI series

Cricket: India beat Sri Lanka in 2nd ODI

India vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Test, Day 2: Pandya gets maiden Test 100

India vs Sri Lanka 3rd Test: Dhawan, Rahul keep Lanka at bay