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Team India spin-bowling all-rounder Riyan Parag enjoyed a sensational ODI debut with the ball in the series finale against Sri Lanka in Colombo on August 7. The 22-year-old became India's partnership breaker by ending an 82-run second wicket stand by dismissing Avishka Fernando on 96.
Parag then trapped Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka in his next over to reduce the hosts from 171/1 to 183/3. Yet, his next wicket turned out to be the best as he produced a classical off-spinner to defeat the in-form Dunith Wellalage on defense to clean him all ends up.
The delivery also had perfect drift and flight to straighten beat Wellalage's outside edge to crash into the stumps.
Here is a video of Riyan Parag's peach to bag this third scalp:
Parag eventually finished with outstanding figures of 3/54 in nine overs to script India's remarkable turnaround in the contest.
With the game slipping away as Sri Lanka raced to 171/1, the Assam-born cricketer picked up three crucial wickets to help India restrict them to 248/7 in 50 overs.
Parag was picked in the playing XI with the series on the line after missing the first two ODIs as an additional spin option apart from his middle-order batting. The choice was validated as he finished as India's bowling star, much to the delight of skipper Rohit Sharma.
"A little disappointed, I could have given 10-15 runs less" - Riyan Parag
Despite India pulling things back in the second half of the Sri Lankan batting innings, Riyan Parag was disappointed with conceding a few runs too many in his spell of 3/54 in nine overs.
India have struggled to chase under lights in the first two ODIs at the same venue, managing a tie in the first outing in a run-chase of 231 and suffering a 32-run defeat chasing 241 in the second ODI.
Talking to the host broadcasters during the mid-innings break, Parag said:
"A little disappointed, I could have given 10-15 runs less. It was turning in the back end. First 25 overs, there wasn't one bit of turn. If it had stayed that way, the score could have been close to 300. After 25 overs, it started to turn and it's a pretty good score. We pulled it back in the middle overs. 240-odd was a great effort by the boys."
Parag played in the three T20Is preceding the ongoing ODI series and produced an impressive spell of 3/5 in the first T20I in Pallekele.
Meanwhile, India will have to chase 249 successfully to avoid its first bilateral series defeat to Sri Lanka in 27 years.
