Vandersay's six-wicket haul powers Sri Lanka to first ODI win over India in three years

In a thrilling matchup that kept fans on the edge of their seats, Sri Lanka secured a much-needed victory against India, clinching their first ODI win over the neighbouring powerhouse in three years.

Sri Lanka posted a total of 240 for 9, thanks to solid contributions from Avishka Fernando and Kamindu Mendis, who both scored 40 runs. Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav put up a strong bowling performance for India, with figures of 3-30 and 2-33, respectively.

Despite being six wickets down for under 150, Sri Lanka showed resilience and pushed their score to a competitive target.

The stage was set at the R Premadasa Stadium, where the pitch offered a challenging landscape for batsmen, with the ball gripping and turning to favour the spinners.

As the second innings commenced, Rohit Sharma came out swinging for India.

He played an aggressive knock, smashing a quick-fire 64 runs, which put India ahead of the required run rate. At 97 for 0, it seemed like India was cruising toward victory, but Sri Lanka had a secret weapon up their sleeve – Jeffrey Vandersay.

Vandersay, a leg-spinner who had often been overshadowed in the Sri Lankan lineup, made his presence known in this high-stakes game.

Called into action due to Wanindu Hasaranga's injury, Vandersay delivered an incredible spell that decimated India's top order.

In a devastating burst, he dismissed six key Indian batsmen, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Shivam Dube, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, and KL Rahul, all within 29 balls. What seemed like a sure win for India quickly unravelled into a desperate scramble to recover from 97 for 0 to 147 for 6.

Unlike their recovery in the previous ODI, India struggled to find their footing this time. Axar Patel and Washington Sundar showed some resistance with a 38-run partnership, but Vandersay had already done the damage.

As India inched closer to the target, Charith Asalanka, with his part-time off-spin, delivered the final blows by dismissing both Axar and Washington in quick succession.

Sri Lanka claimed a hard-fought 32-run victory, marking their first ODI win over India since July 2021. This win broke a streak of seven consecutive losses against India, and it was a testament to Vandersay's exceptional performance.

His 6 for 33 performance etched his name alongside Sri Lankan legends Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Angelo Mathews, and Akila Dananjaya, all of whom have taken six wickets or more in an ODI against India.