IND vs SL 1st ODI: Sri Lanka goes 1-0 up with seven-wicket win

Shubhanshu Sharma
Published on: 10 Dec 2017 12:07 PM GMT
IND vs SL 1st ODI: Sri Lanka goes 1-0 up with seven-wicket win
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Dharamsala: Opener Upul Tharanga rode on good luck to play a brilliant knock of 49 runs to help Sri Lanka stun India by seven wickets in the first One-day International (ODI) at the HPCA Stadium here on Sunday.

The left-handed batsman helped Sri Lanka chase down the target with 176 balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Angelo Mathews (25 off 42, 5 fours) and Nirosham Dickwella (26 off 24, 5 fours) remained unbeaten to see the visitors over the line.

Indian pacers, however, had maintained pressure over the Lankan batsmen by reducing them to 19/2 in 6.1 overs, but some good luck and determination helped the visitors take 1-0 lead in the series.

For India, bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/42), Jasprit Bumrah (1/32) and Hardik Pandya (1/39) scalped a wicket each.

Earlier, after being put in to bat first, Rohit Sharma got off to a disastrous start as a captain as the Virat Kohli-less batting order collapsed miserably in front of an impeccable Sri Lankan pace attack.

MS Dhoni scored about 60 per cent of the runs the entire team scored (112 all out) with a magnificent 65-run inning that came off 87 balls and was laced with 10 fours and two humongous sixes.

Shockingly, none of the top five Indian batsmen, who include Shikhar Dhawan (0 off 6), Rohit Sharma (2 off 13), debutant Shreyas Iyer (9 off 27), Dinesh Karthik (0 off 18) and Manish Pandey (2 off 15), could touch the double figures.

Also Read: IND vs SL 1st ODI: Dhoni helps India avoid lowest total scare

All-rounder Hardik Pandya was the first batsman to breach into the double figures, but could not add a single run afterwards. He scored 10 runs off equal number of deliveries with two fours before edging the ball through to Angelo Mathews at slip area.

It was only due to MS Dhoni’s experience of playing in such situations which helped India avoid being wrapped up for the lowest ever score in One Day Internationals.

Dhoni, who came in to bat at No. 6, kept stitching partnerships with the tail-enders to get India to a fightable total. He was the only batsman who could show some aggression even against the Lankan pace batteries. He could have scored much more if got support from the other end.

112 can be called a good total considering India was seven down for just 29 runs in 16.4 overs. The credit for the same should also go to Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav who added 19 runs off 25 balls with the help of 4 boundaries.

Player of the match: Suranga Lakmal

Suranga Lakmal, who had troubled India in the first Test, was once again on a roll as he picked up four wickets for 13 runs in 10 overs. He also bowled 4 maiden overs in his spell. Nuwan Pradeep also took two wickets while Angelo Mathews, Akila Dananjaya, Thisara Perera and Sachith Pathirana managed one wicket each.

Indian bowlers will have to pull out a terrific performance if they even want to give competition to the visiting side in the opening ODI.

Shubhanshu Sharma

Shubhanshu Sharma

Writer has 6 years of experience in digital media. Presently working as Senior Sub Editor at newstrack.com. An avid reader and always willing to learn new things and techniques.

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