5 things that went wrong for Sri Lanka in the third ODI

There is no stopping for the Indian cricket team who are on a winning rampage in Sri Lanka. After winning the Test series 3-0, they have now clinched the five-match ODI series 3-0 by winning the third ODI at Pallekele. This was the seventh successive bilateral series victory against Sri Lanka for the visitors. The last time they lost an ODI series to the Islanders was in 1997. Opener Rohit Sharma scored his maiden ODI century in Sri Lanka.

As for the hosts, nothing seems to be going right for them since the Champions Trophy group stage exit, after which they lost consecutive series to Zimbabwe and India, even after changing their captain thrice in that period.

Here are five things that went wrong for Sri Lanka in the 3rd ODI

No support from the openers

Sri Lanka’s openers have been disappointing throughout the series thus far. Niroshan Dickwella showed some discipline in his batting with scores of 61 and 34 in the first and second ODIs respectively.

But apart from those two innings, the top order has performed very poorly. Danushka Gunathilaka got starts but failed to convert them into a long innings, and in his absence in the third ODI, Dinesh Chandimal could manage only 36 runs. Kusal Mendis, on the other hand, continued with his poor run.

He has scores of 36, 19 and 1 in the three ODIs respectively. Not just in the ODIs, the top order was disappointing in the Test series too which Sri Lanka lost 0-3.

Inability to convert starts

Kusal Mendis has been abysmal throughout the tournament

Apart from Lahiru Thirimanne, nobody in Sri Lanka’s middle-order could convert their starts into a long innings. Former captain Angelo Mathews, who has underperformed throughout, looked good for a big score when he started his innings, but shortly fell on 11 runs. Stand-in captain Chamara Kapugedera fell on 14, while Milinda Siriwardana on 29. As for the lower-middle order, the bowlers have not been able to chip in even a combined 30 runs with the bat.

The openers don’t build a good start, the middle order batsmen fail to convert their good starts, and the lower order cannot bat. Sri Lanka’s miseries are plenty.

Inability to exert pressure after initial wickets

Virat Kohli, KL Rahul and Kedar Jadhav failed once again, but Sri Lanka could not capitalize

Shikhar Dhawan, who has been in the form of his life, was dismissed on only 5 runs. KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav replicated their performance from the second ODI. All three were dismissed cheaply.

But thereafter, the story from Pallekele repeated itself at Kandy. MS Dhoni walked in and took control of the situation. The former captain scored an 86-ball 64 along with Rohit Sharma who scored a sensational 145-ball 124.

In the second ODI too, it was Sri Lanka’s inability to exert pressure after the first six wickets that cost them a match they should have won. India, despite going from 109-1 to 131-7 won the second match comfortably.

Lack of bowling depth

Dushmantha Chameera has not been able to assist Akila Dananjaya

Sri Lanka have unearthed a bowling superstar in the young Akila Dananjaya. The 24-year-old, who took six wickets in the second ODI, picked up another two in the third ODI. But apart from him, the other bowlers have not been able to contribute much.

Lasith Malinga, who has a rich wealth of experience of playing against Indian batsmen in the IPL, could manage only a solitary wicket. Milinda Siriwardana, Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera remained wicketless. Vishwa Fernando could also manage only a solitary wicket.

In the first ODI, all of the bowlers remained wicketless as the Indian openers took their team home without losing a single wicket.

Lack of self-belief

Sri Lanka have lost belief in themselvesIf Sri Lanka do not want to be at the receiving end of another whitewash, they need to play with a bit of confidence and self-belief. Not only are they losing matches, they are losing matches they could have won.

A certain Rohit Sharma, who averaged only 12 in Sri Lanka until this ODI series, scored back to back fearless knocks. That is proof that Sri Lanka are playing without any self-belief, which is making the job easier for the visitors.

They’ve lost belief in themselves, and the fans have lost faith in their stars. Sri Lankan cricket, once a force to reckon with, is possibly in its lowest phase ever.