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| Ind vs Srilanka 1st odi |
India Vs Srilanka 1st ODI:
Four Lankan spin bowlers snatched India an easy win with their brilliant bowling to draw the match in the India-Sri Lanka first ODI in Colombo today. Chasing a target of 231 runs to win, India were ahead of Sri Lanka from the start. India's two openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill put on a massive partnership of 75 runs in the opening pair. But, a brilliant spin attack by Dunith Wellalage, Akila, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka helped Sri Lanka avoid defeat for the first time in the ongoing series.
Thrilling Run Chase By India :
Chasing a target of 231 runs set by Sri Lanka, Indian captain Rohit Sharma started the innings in a devastating mood. India chased down 40 runs in the first 4 overs. Rohit was dismissed for 58 runs off just 47 balls. Gill, on the other hand, played his game at a slow pace and lost his wicket for 16 runs off 35 balls.
Today India sent Washington Sundar to bat at number 4. But he could not survive in front of the Sri Lankan bowlers. He got out after scoring 5 runs off just 4 balls. But Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer in the middle order provided some hope for India's progress. These two played some aggressive shots to help India get back on track. However, Hasaranga took the wicket of Kohli in the 24th over to give Sri Lanka another chance to win. Shreyas also lost his crucial wicket in the very next over.
When India needed around 100 runs to win the match, only KL Rahul, Akshar Patel and Shivam Dubey - these three batsmen - were India's only hope. Rahul and Axar Patel put on a crucial 50-run partnership to give the team a chance to win again. But in the 39th over, Hasaranga sent KL Rahul back to the pavilion. In the very next over, Axar Patel returned to the dugout with a catch in the hands of the wicket keeper by asalanka.
In the end, all the responsibilities goes to Shivam Dube to finish the match with the lower order batsmen. In under pressure, he hit two sixes and one four to level the match. However, with only one run needed to win for India, Sri Lanka captain Asalanka dismissed Dubey and Arshdeep Singh by lbw on two consecutive deliveries to draw the match.
Srilanka's Struggle:
Sri Lanka put 230/8 on the scoreboard based on Wellalage's fighting half-century at the start of the day. After Sri Lanka lost 101 runs by 5 wickets in the 27th over of the innings, the lower order batsmen of this young team took the team to a respectable place. Mohammad Siraj for India early in the innings caught Avishka Fernando back to the pavilion but later another opener Pathum Nisanka played brilliantly in the powerplay for Sri Lanka.
Nisanka was leading the team from one end to a strong point but the Lankans kept losing wickets from the other end. Batsmen like Sadira Samarawickrama and Asalanka failed to make significant contributions, and Nisanka was dismissed after crossing his crucial fifty run.
This time, Sri Lanka not only needed a partnership, they also needed to increase their run rate as they were scoring less than four runs per over. However, Zenith Liyanage and Wellalage took Sri Lanka's innings to a much better place. Wellalage then formed an effective partnership with Hasaranga and Dananjaya after Axar Patel dismissed Zenith Liyanage. Finally, Wellalage managed to bring up his first fifty in ODI cricket and ensured his team's 230 runs on the board.
India Vs Srilanka 1st ODI Brief Score:
Srilanka - 230/8 in 50 overs (Dunith Wellalage 67*, Pathum Nissanka 56; Axar Patel 2/33)
India - 230 in 47.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 58, Axar Patel 33; Charith Asalanka 3/30)
Match Tied
