Durban, Aug 6: Winning the toss, hosts Sri Lanka elected to bat first and set a target of 249 before India in the third and final ODI at R Premadasa Stadium, here on Wednesday.
With Avishka Fernando's compact 96 and Kusal Mendis playing an impressive innings of 59 runs, Sri Lanka scored 248/7 in the allotted 50 overs. The hosts had a 89-run first wicket partnership between Fernando and Pathum Nissanka (45).
For the second wicket, Fernando and Mendis too had a vital 82 runs partnership, which laid the foundation for a challenging total before the Indians.
Among Indian bowlers, Riyan Parag was the most successful with an impressive 3/54 figure in 9 overs. Indian spinners trio of Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sunder claimed one wicket each.
Pace spearhead Mohd Siraj although was expensive for his standards giving away 78 runs in 10 overs, but he too had a scalp against his name.
India need a victory in the final ODI to draw the series. Because after the tied first ODI, the hosts under new skipper Charith Asalanka, surprised Indians by winning the second game by 32 runs. Lanka lead the three-match series 1-0.
