Colombo: The first match of the 3-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka was played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The other 2 matches of the series will also be played at the same venue. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat first.
The Lankan Lions didn’t have a good start to the game as opener, Avishka Fernando lost his wicket in the 3rd over to pacer Mohammed Siraj. Next batsman, Kusal Mendis formed a good stand with the other opener, Pathum Nissanka to steady Sri Lankan innings. However, Mendis wasn’t able to continue for long as he was dismissed by Shivam Dube after scoring 14 runs.
After Mendis’ wicket fell, the hosts went on to lose wickets on regular intervals, but on one end Nissanka held his wicket and played some great shots. Soon, he reached his half-century but wasn’t able to continue for much longer as Washington Sundar got his wicket on 56. Dunith Wellalage went on to score a fifty and side-by-side also formed decent stands with the likes of Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga and Akila Dananjaya to carry Sri Lanka to a fighting total of 230/8 after 50 overs.
In reply, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma who came back to the international stage for the first time since leading India to the T20 World Cup trophy, formed a great opening partnership with Shubman Gill. In their stand, Gill played the supporting role while Rohit went on to smash the Sri Lankan bowlers. The 75-run opening stand came to an end in the 13th over as Gill was dismissed by Wellalage after scoring 16 runs.
Then, India would go onto lose 2 more wickets in quick succession as Rohit and Sundar lost their wickets in consecutive overs. Returning players, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer formed a decent 43-run stand before Kohli got dismissed on 24 in the 24th over. Iyer got dismissed in the very next over as India looked to be in a spot of bother at 132/5.
Axar Patel and KL Rahul formed a good partnership of 57 runs to take the Men in Blue in a comfortable position. It looked as if India would easily go over the line against a struggling Sri Lanka side. However, both Axar and Rahul lost their wickets in a span of 8 runs. Shivam Dube was the only batter remaining for India as at the other end it was the tail-enders’ turn to take the crease.
Dube did all he could and almost took India over the line with his knock of 25. However, he fell short on the final hurdle and was dismissed by Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka as the scores were level. India now needed a single run but at the same time, only had their last wicket remaining and Asalanka went on dismiss Arshdeep Singh on the very next ball as the hosts bowled out the visitors for 230 runs in 47.5 overs and pulled off a tie.
Hasaranga and Asalanka turned out to be the stars in the bowling department for the hosts as both took 3 wickets each and constantly kept on putting pressure on the Men in Blue during the chase. Wellalage was awarded with the player of the match award for his unbeaten knock of 63 and for also taking the big wickets of Rohit and Gill. The second match of the series will be played on August 4.
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