Dhawan hands India comfortable win in series decider

Hosts claim eight-wicket win to take series 2-1 after going 1-0 down

VISAKHAPATNAM: Left-handed opener Shikhar Dhawan made an unbeaten 100 as India beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the third and deciding ODI to clinch the series 2-1 in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

Chasing a meagre 216 for victory, the hosts depended on a 135-run second-wicket partnership between Shreyas Iyer, who made 65, and Dhawan to achieve their target in just 32.1 overs.

Dhawan completed his 12th ODI hundred in 85 balls before taking India to their eighth consecutive ODI series victory since June 2016.

But it was Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal who set up the comprehensive win after taking three wickets each to help restrict the visitors to 215 all out in 44.5 overs.

The hosts lost skipper Rohit Sharma early after he was bowled by off-spinner Akila Dananjaya for seven but it was only a minor blemish in an otherwise comfortable chase.

Iyer, who made 88 in the Mohali ODI, hit 8 fours and a six during his 63-ball knock before falling to skipper Thisara Perera. The batsman mistimed a pull to be caught at mid-on.

Earlier Sri Lanka had got off to a strong start with opener Upul Tharanga making an 82-ball 95 after the visitors were invited to bat first.

However, the wheels fell off the visitors’ effort as they went from being 160-2 to 215 all out once Tharanga was dismissed by Yadav.

The two teams now head into the three T20Is starting Wednesday in Cuttack. India have already won the Test series and will be looking to make it three wins in three formats.