Skipper Rohit Sharma performed on a distinct ‘observe’ from his different colleagues, who have been completely uncovered towards high quality spin bowling as Sri Lanka managed to eke out a tie towards India in a low-scoring however thrilling opening ODI in Colombo on Friday. In a chase of 231, skipper Rohit smashed 58 off 47 balls on a rank turner with variable bounce, taking his group to 71 in 10 overs however all the opposite batters by no means seemed snug towards a military of Lankan spinners as skipper Charith Asalanka bought wickets off back-to-back deliveries to play his half within the forty fourth tie within the historical past of ODI cricket.
When Shivam Dube (25) hit these two sixes and a boundary by the additional cowl to tie the scores, it appeared like Sri Lanka’s woes would proceed, however Asalanka took it upon himself to at the very least earn a psychological win for the house group.
Rohit did not look one bit rusty throughout his damaging half-century however the Indian middle-order stuttered badly, displaying their ineptitude towards sluggish bowlers.
After the Indian bowling unit collectively put up present on a turner, limiting Sri Lanka to 230 for 8, Rohit’s 58 gave India a damaging begin. Issues went right into a downward spiral after that as Sri Lanka’s battery of spinners, led by Wanindu Hasaranga (3/58 in 10 overs), Akila Dananjaya (/140 in 10 overs), Dunith Wellalage (2/39 in 8 overs) and skipper Charith Asalanka (3/30 in 8.5 overs), not solely choked the run move but additionally bought breakthroughs when mandatory.
On a pitch the place Rohit made batting look ridiculously straightforward, KL Rahul (31 off 43 balls) appeared to as soon as once more play his pure ready recreation that has at all times proved to be detrimental for his group’s trigger. And, by the point he threw away his wicket, he could not guarantee a decisive turnaround.
Virat Kohli (23), Shreyas Iyer (24) and Axar Patel (33) all bought begins however could not capitalise.
Nonetheless, it was Rohit, who seemed like taking part in on a distinct observe in comparison with all different batters throughout each groups. He began with an 88-metre six over cow nook off the very third ball of India’s innings bowled by Asitha Fernando after which welcomed debutant pacer Mohamed Shiraz with a few boundaries and a slap over deep mid-wicket for a six.
Whereas Shubman Gill (16) struggled on the different finish, Rohit handled the Lankan bowlers with disdain.
As soon as he was adjudged leg-before attempting a slog sweep off Dananjaya, all of a sudden the pitch, which seemed straightforward to bat on, began displaying its vagaries.
The ball began turning a wee bit extra and the variable bounce additionally created confusion. Kohli bought a skidder and was plumb in entrance whereas Washington Sundar (5) bought one which Dananjaya fired in with an angle. Iyer did not look dangerous in his brief innings earlier than an in-cutter from Fernando breached his defence.
Earlier, clever fifties from Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage carried the hosts to a combating rating.
Nissanka (56, 75b, 9×4) was an image of focus and Wellalage (67 not out, 65b, 7×4, 2×6) of confidence on a pitch that supplied some flip after Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka opted to bat first.
Sri Lanka had a shaky begin to their innings when Mohammed Siraj ousted Avishka Fernando however Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (14) added 39 runs for a gentle second wicket because the hosts staged a mini-recovery.
Simply because it occurred within the previous T20I collection, the Islanders confirmed the propensity to throw their wickets away from that time.
This isn’t to undermine the superb effort put in by the Indian bowlers, who elicited a number of false photographs from the Lankan batters.
Mendis fell leg-before to Shivam Dube, who made his return to one-day cricket after a hiatus of 5 years with that scalp.
From a comparatively snug 46 for 2, the Lankan innings quickly crash-landed to 101 for 5 within the twenty seventh over.
Wellalage was fairly spectacular after his preliminary struggles towards Kuldeep. The crunchy back-foot punch by the covers for 4 off Washington and some different ramps and scoops have been a sworn statement to the teenager’s potential.
The left-hander, who added one other 46 with Akila Dhananjaya for the eighth wicket, introduced up his maiden ODI fifty in 59 balls, additionally helping his facet to go previous the 200-run mark that when appeared distant.
(Apart from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is revealed from a syndicated feed.)
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