Cricket is more than just a sport in South Asia—it’s a passion, a way of life, and a source of endless excitement for millions. When the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard, the atmosphere crackles with anticipation. These two cricketing powerhouses have a storied rivalry, filled with unforgettable moments, dramatic finishes, and displays of sheer talent. In this article, we’ll dive into a detailed look at a recent match between these two teams, breaking down the scorecard in a way that’s easy to understand for fans of all ages. Whether you’re a seasoned cricket follower or someone just dipping their toes into the game, this will be a fun and engaging read. Let’s get started!

The Stage is Set: Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in 2024

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard in July and August 2024 for a bilateral series that included three T20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One Day Internationals (ODIs). This tour was a big deal because it marked Gautam Gambhir’s first assignment as India’s head coach and Suryakumar Yadav’s debut as the full-time T20I captain. For Sri Lanka, it was a chance to showcase their resilience and talent on home soil. The series was a mix of high-octane T20 clashes and strategic ODI battles, with both teams vying for supremacy.

For this article, we’ll focus on the third ODI match of the series, played on August 7, 2024, at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This match was pivotal as it decided the outcome of the ODI series, with Sri Lanka pulling off a stunning victory to clinch the series 2-0. Let’s break down the scorecard, explore the key moments, and relive the drama that unfolded.

Understanding the Scorecard: A Simple Guide

Before we dive into the details, let’s quickly explain what a cricket scorecard is for those who might be new to the game. A scorecard is like a snapshot of the match—it tells you who scored what, who bowled, who took wickets, and other key stats. It’s divided into sections for batting, bowling, and extras, and it shows how the game progressed. In an ODI match, each team gets 50 overs (300 balls) to score as many runs as possible, unless they lose all 10 wickets or the match is interrupted (like by rain).

Our focus is the third ODI between Sri Lanka and India, so let’s look at the full scorecard, followed by a breakdown of what happened. I’ll keep it simple, conversational, and easy to follow, so everyone can enjoy the story of this match.

Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard 3rd ODI – August 7, 2024

Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Toss: Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first
Result: Sri Lanka won by 110 runs
Series Result: Sri Lanka won the ODI series 2-0

Sri Lanka Innings (50 overs maximum)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Pathum Nissanka	c Shubman Gill b Riyan Parag	45	65	5	0	69.23
Avishka Fernando	c KL Rahul b Mohammed Siraj	96	102	9	1	94.12
Kusal Mendis (wk)	lbw b Kuldeep Yadav	59	82	4	0	71.95
Charith Asalanka (c)	c KL Rahul b Shivam Dube	10	12	1	0	83.33
Sadeera Samarawickrama	c Shreyas Iyer b Kuldeep Yadav	8	18	0	0	44.44
Janith Liyanage	run out (Kohli/Rahul)	8	18	0	0	44.44
Dunith Wellalage	not out	2	3	0	0	66.67
Kamindu Mendis	not out	1	1	0	0	100.00
Extras	(b 4, lb 5, w 9, nb 1)	19
Total	(6 wickets, 50 overs)	248		19	1

Did Not Bat: Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando

Fall of Wickets

• 82/1 (Pathum Nissanka, 19.2 overs)

• 171/2 (Avishka Fernando, 34.4 overs)

• 199/3 (Charith Asalanka, 39.3 overs)

• 227/4 (Sadeera Samarawickrama, 45.4 overs)

• 244/5 (Kusal Mendis, 48.5 overs)

• 247/6 (Janith Liyanage, 49.5 overs)

India Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides	No Balls
Mohammed Siraj	8	0	43	1	5.37	2	0
Arshdeep Singh	7	0	38	0	5.42	1	1
Axar Patel	10	0	41	0	4.10	0	0
Kuldeep Yadav	10	0	36	2	3.60	1	0
Riyan Parag	8	0	54	1	6.75	4	0
Shubman Gill	2	0	12	0	6.00	0	0
Shivam Dube	5	0	15	1	3.00	1	0

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India Innings (Target: 249 runs from 50 overs)

Batsman	Dismissal	Runs	Balls	4s	6s	Strike Rate
Rohit Sharma (c)	c Pathum Nissanka b Dunith Wellalage	35	20	6	1	175.00
Shubman Gill	lbw b Maheesh Theekshana	6	10	1	0	60.00
Virat Kohli	c Charith Asalanka b Dunith Wellalage	20	18	4	0	111.11
Shreyas Iyer	c Kusal Mendis b Dunith Wellalage	8	7	2	0	114.29
KL Rahul (wk)	b Jeffrey Vandersay	0	5	0	0	0.00
Rishabh Pant	lbw b Jeffrey Vandersay	6	9	1	0	66.67
Axar Patel	c sub (M Shiraz) b Dunith Wellalage	5	13	0	0	38.46
Riyan Parag	c Avishka Fernando b Dunith Wellalage	15	15	1	0	100.00
Shivam Dube	not out	9	14	0	0	64.29
Kuldeep Yadav	c Kamindu Mendis b Dunith Wellalage	0	2	0	0	0.00
Mohammed Siraj	c Kusal Mendis b Asitha Fernando	4	5	1	0	80.00
Extras	(lb 3, w 5)	8
Total	(all out, 26.1 overs)	138		16	1

Did Not Bat: Arshdeep Singh

Fall of Wickets

• 37/1 (Shubman Gill, 4.1 overs)

• 53/2 (Rohit Sharma, 6.2 overs)

• 67/3 (Shreyas Iyer, 8.3 overs)

• 82/4 (KL Rahul, 11.2 overs)

• 82/5 (Virat Kohli, 12.2 overs)

• 88/6 (Rishabh Pant, 13.5 overs)

• 108/7 (Axar Patel, 18.5 overs)

• 125/8 (Riyan Parag, 22.5 overs)

• 125/9 (Kuldeep Yadav, 23.1 overs)

• 138/10 (Mohammed Siraj, 26.1 overs)

Sri Lanka Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Economy	Wides	No Balls
Maheesh Theekshana	6	0	28	1	4.66	1	0
Asitha Fernando	5.1	0	34	1	6.62	1	0
Dunith Wellalage	9	0	41	5	4.55	2	0
Jeffrey Vandersay	5	0	29	2	5.80	1	0
Charith Asalanka	1	0	3	0	3.00	0	0

The Match Story: A Tale of Spin and Grit

Sri Lanka’s Batting: Building a Competitive Total

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first, a decision that often suits teams at the R. Premadasa Stadium, where the pitch tends to slow down later in the game. The Lankan openers, Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando, got off to a steady start. Nissanka played a cautious yet effective innings, scoring 45 runs off 65 balls with five boundaries. He was dismissed by debutant Riyan Parag, caught by Shubman Gill, breaking the opening partnership at 82 runs.

Avishka Fernando was the star of the show, though. His 96 runs off 102 balls, including nine fours and a six, was a masterclass in controlled aggression. He anchored the innings, keeping the scoreboard ticking while playing some gorgeous cover drives. Unfortunately, he fell just short of a well-deserved century, caught by KL Rahul off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling.

Kusal Mendis, the wicketkeeper-batsman, chipped in with a solid 59 off 82 balls, forming a crucial 89-run partnership with Fernando for the second wicket. The Sri Lankan middle order, however, struggled to capitalize fully. Captain Charith Asalanka scored a quick 10, while Sadeera Samarawickrama and Janith Liyanage couldn’t convert their starts. The innings ended at 248/6 in 50 overs, a competitive total on a pitch that was expected to assist spinners later.

India’s bowlers did a decent job, with Kuldeep Yadav being the pick of the bunch, taking 2 wickets for 36 runs in his 10 overs. Shivam Dube was economical, conceding just 15 runs in 5 overs while picking up a wicket. However, the Indian pacers, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep Singh, were a tad expensive, and the lack of wickets from Axar Patel meant Sri Lanka could build a challenging total.

India’s Chase: A Spin Trap Springs Shut

Chasing 249, India needed a strong start, and captain Rohit Sharma provided just that. He came out all guns blazing, smashing 35 runs off just 20 balls, including six fours and a six. His aggressive approach put Sri Lanka’s bowlers under pressure early on. However, the young Dunith Wellalage had other plans. He dismissed Rohit, caught by Pathum Nissanka, triggering a dramatic collapse.

Shubman Gill, usually reliable, was trapped lbw by Maheesh Theekshana for just 6. Virat Kohli, one of the world’s best batsmen, looked in good touch, scoring 20 off 18 balls, but Wellalage struck again, getting him caught by Asalanka. Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul followed quickly, both falling to spin. Rahul, in particular, had a tough day, dismissed for a duck by Jeffrey Vandersay.

The Indian middle order crumbled under the pressure of Sri Lanka’s spinners. Rishabh Pant, known for his flair, couldn’t get going and was lbw to Vandersay for 6. Axar Patel and Riyan Parag tried to stabilize the innings, but Wellalage was relentless, picking up his third, fourth, and fifth wickets to rip through India’s batting. By the 23rd over, India were 125/9, and the writing was on the wall.

Shivam Dube, unbeaten on 9, and Mohammed Siraj put up a brief fight, but Asitha Fernando sealed the deal, dismissing Siraj to bowl India out for 138 in just 26.1 overs. Dunith Wellalage was the hero, finishing with figures of 5/41, while Vandersay and Theekshana chipped in with two and one wickets, respectively.

Key Moments That Shaped the Match

1. Avishka Fernando’s 96: His near-century was the backbone of Sri Lanka’s total. Without his contribution, they might have struggled to post a competitive score.
2. Dunith Wellalage’s Five-Wicket Haul: The young spinner turned the game on its head, dismissing India’s top batsmen and earning the Player of the Match award.
3. Rohit Sharma’s Explosive Start: Rohit’s 35 off 20 balls gave India hope, but his dismissal shifted the momentum decisively.
4. Sri Lanka’s Spin Dominance: The trio of Wellalage, Vandersay, and Theekshana exploited the turning pitch perfectly, exposing India’s struggles against spin.

Why This Match Mattered

This victory was monumental for Sri Lanka. It marked their first bilateral ODI series win against India in 27 years, since 1997. For a team that had faced challenges, including a suspension by the ICC in 2023 due to administrative issues, this was a moment of pride. The win showcased their depth, especially in spin bowling, and the emergence of young talents like Wellalage.

For India, the loss was a wake-up call. Despite dominating the T20I series 3-0, their batting struggled against spin in the ODIs, raising questions about their approach on turning pitches. The series loss was a rare blemish for a team known for its consistency, and it gave coach Gautam Gambhir plenty to think about ahead of future tournaments.

The Bigger Picture: The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard Rivalry

The Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard rivalry is one of the most exciting in world cricket. The two teams have faced off in numerous memorable matches, from the 1996 World Cup final, where Sri Lanka triumphed, to the 2002 ICC Champions Trophy, which they shared as co-champions. India holds a strong record in ODIs, with 99 wins in 168 matches against Sri Lanka, but the Lions have always had a knack for springing surprises.

This 2024 series showed that Sri Lanka, under captain Charith Asalanka, is rebuilding into a formidable unit. Meanwhile, India, with their star-studded lineup, will look to bounce back stronger. Matches like these remind us why cricket is so special—it’s not just about runs and wickets but about heart, strategy, and moments that stay with fans forever.

Wrapping Up

The third ODI between Sri Lanka National Cricket Team vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard on August 7, 2024, was a classic example of how cricket can be unpredictable and thrilling. Sri Lanka’s disciplined batting, led by Avishka Fernando, set the stage, and their spinners, spearheaded by Dunith Wellalage, stole the show. For India, it was a tough day, but it’s all part of the game’s ebb and flow.