Cricket-Spinners, top order help Sri Lanka avoid whitewash against India

Cricket - Third One Day International - Sri Lanka v India - R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka - July 23, 2021 Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka celebrates taking the wicket of India's Prithvi Shaw with teammates REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka avoided a series whitewash against a second-string India side after half-centuries by Avishka Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa led them to a three-wicket victory in the rain-hit third and final one-day international on Friday.

Opener Fernando made a patient 76 and number three batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa made a breezy 65 as Sri Lanka prevailed with eight overs to spare via Duckworth-Lewis method after the match had been reduced to 47-overs-a-side contest.