The joy was palpable on Virat Kohli’s face after Riyan Parag got Charith Asalanka out during the ongoing third ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The match began in favor of Sri Lanka, who won the toss and opted to bat first. Their openers Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando provided them with a fine start, putting up 89 runs for the first wicket.
It was in the 20th over that India finally got the first breakthrough, and that was the fall of Nissanka for 45 runs by Axar Patel. The setback did little to deter Sri Lanka from composing themselves once again, with Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis sharing a fine partnership.
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The two added 82 runs for the second wicket, setting them up for a big total. Riyan Parag, however punctured the good work by taking the vital wicket of Avishka Fernando, who was on the threshold of a hundred. Fernando departed after an authoritative 96 from 102 balls, containing 9 fours and 2 sixes.
Just 12 runs later, Riyan Parag struck again as he cleaned up the Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka. On the first ball of the 38th over, Parag was smoked for a six by Asalanka but the youngster had the last laugh.
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On the final ball of the over, Asalanka, going for a leg side shot, missed the ball only to be given out LBW. He reviewed the decision but replays confirmed his fall. As the batsman walked off, both Riyan Parag and Virat Kohli celebrated animatedly. Kohli, himself a very passionate character on the field, roared in joy and gave Asalanka a fiery send-off, reportedly shouting, “Hutt, beh**n***d.”
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India capitalized on those breakthroughs, putting pressure back on Sri Lanka. At the time of writing, the former was struggling at 200 for 6 in the 44th over. Following the dismissals of Fernando and Asalanka, Riyan Parag continued impressing as he also took the wicket of in-form Dunith Wellalage to put India right in command in the match.
It is India’s bowlers, led by the energetic efforts of Riyan Parag and supported by the fierce enthusiasm of Virat Kohli, that have managed to pull things back in their favor.
