Like in the 3rd T20I match in Pallekelle, the 1st ODI match in Colombo between Sri Lanka and India ended in a dramatic tie. Both teams ended on 230. However, this time, there was no Super Over to decide the winner at R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
Pathum Nissanka scored a fifty in the top order whilst Dunith Wellalage made a fighting 67* to notch up his maiden half-century as Sri Lanka posted 230 for the loss of 8 wickets. Skipper Charith Asalanka picked up 2 wickets in 2 balls to force the tie as India faltered in their run chase.
With just 1 run to get off 15 balls, Asalanka trapped Shivam Dube and then Arshdeep Singh to close out the game in the 48th over.
In the history of ODI cricket between Sri Lanka and India, this is the second-ever instance of a Tie.
Earlier, after Asalanka opted to bat first in his 1st game as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain – the home team lost Avishka Fernando in the 3rd over. Kusal Mendis took time to settle down but eventually missed a straight one for 14. Sadeera Samarawickrama failed to read the pace and spin of the pitch as Indian spinners tightened the screws.
Skipper Asalanka too failed to make an impact whilst Nissanka continued to toil hard and put up runs on the board. Nissanka reached his 14th ODI fifty but became Washington Sundar’s only scalp.
At 101 for 5, Wellalage walked in and played the situation perfectly. He first added 41 runs for the 6th wicket with Janith Liyanage before the latter was given out caught behind. He walked away straight but later on the replays showed there was no deflection. Wanindu Hasaranga put his head down and was batting sensibly along with Wellalage but he too perished.
Number nine batter Akila Dananjaya and Wellalage added 46 runs off 39 balls for the 8th wicket – the highest stand in the Lankan innings which gave a real impetus to the scoreboard. Except for the part-time spinner Shubman Gill, all the other bowlers took wickets for the visitors.
- Photos – Sri Lanka Practice Session ahead of 1st ODI | India tour of Sri Lanka 2024
- WATCH – Injury-hit Sri Lanka face daunting challenge by India – ODI series preview
In chase of 231 runs to win, India got off to a flying start as skipper Rohit Sharma played with the same intent, he did couple of months ago by taking on the bowlers. He and his partner Shubman Gill made 71 runs in the 1st powerplay which hurt Sri Lanka.
However, against the run of play, Wellalage got both the prized scalps of Gill and Sharma within two overs. Gill skied one for 16 whilst Sharma was trapped LBW for 58 off 47 deliveries.
Washington Sundar, who was promoted to number 4 was also dismissed LBW by Akila Dananjaya as Sri Lanka stayed in the contest.
With Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer slowly taking the game away from the hosts with a 43-run stand for the 4th wicket, Wanindu Hasaranga trapped the chase master, Kohli for 24 and in the very next over, seamer Asitha Fernando castled Iyer to bring Sri Lanka back into the game.
Another vital 57-run partnership between KL Rahul and Axar Patel got India closer to the target but again Hasaranga got the former to play a false stroke and give away the wicket.
Skipper Charith Asalanka dismissed the dangerous Axar Patel, while Hasaranga removed Kuldeep Yadav to set up a thrilling finish.
Shivam Dube, who took the fast-bowling all-rounders position in the Indian team, playing an ODI after 5 years, played the almost perfect game, scoring 25 off 24 balls but with just 1 run to get, he too was caught plumb in front to bring the last man Arshdeep Singh to the middle.
Earlier, due to a spate of injuries to the first-choice fast bowlers, 29-year-old Mohammad Shiraz was handed the ODI debut for the hosts
The next match (2nd ODI) will be played on 4th August (Sunday) at the same venue.
Brief Scores
Sri Lanka – 230/8 (50 overs) – Pathum Nissanka 56, Janith Liyanage 20, Dunith Wellalage 67*, Wanindu Hasaranga 24, Arshdeep Singh 2/47, Axar Patel 2/33.
India – 230 (47.5 overs) – Rohit Sharma 58, Virat Kohli 24, Shreyas Iyer 23, Axar Patel 33, KL Rahul 31, Shivam Dube 25, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/58, Dunith Wellalage 2/39, Charith Asalanka 3/30
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | lbw b Washington Sundar | 56 | 75 | 9 | 0 | 74.67 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Arshdeep Singh b Mohammed Siraj | 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14.29 |
| Kusal Mendis | lbw b Shivam Dube | 14 | 31 | 1 | 0 | 45.16 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | c Shubman Gill b Axar Patel | 8 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 44.44 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Rohit Sharma b Kuldeep Yadav | 14 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Rohit Sharma b Axar Patel | 20 | 26 | 1 | 1 | 76.92 |
| Dunith Wellalage | not out | 67 | 65 | 7 | 2 | 103.08 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Axar Patel b Arshdeep Singh | 24 | 35 | 1 | 2 | 68.57 |
| Akila Dananjaya | c Washington Sundar b Arshdeep Singh | 17 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 80.95 |
| Mohamed Shiraz | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 2 , nb 0, w 6, pen 0) |
| Total | 230/8 (50 Overs, RR: 4.6) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammed Siraj | 8 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 4.50 | |
| Arshdeep Singh | 8 | 0 | 47 | 2 | 5.88 | |
| Axar Patel | 10 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 3.30 | |
| Shivam Dube | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 | |
| Kuldeep Yadav | 10 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 3.30 | |
| Washington Sundar | 9 | 1 | 46 | 1 | 5.11 | |
| Shubman Gill | 1 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 14.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | lbw b Dunith Wellalage | 58 | 47 | 7 | 3 | 123.40 |
| Shubman Gill | c Kusal Mendis b Dunith Wellalage | 16 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 45.71 |
| Virat Kohli | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 24 | 32 | 2 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Washington Sundar | lbw b Akila Dananjaya | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Shreyas Iyer | b Asitha Fernando | 23 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 100.00 |
| KL Rahul | c Dunith Wellalage b Wanindu Hasaranga | 31 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 72.09 |
| Axar Patel | c Kusal Mendis b Charith Asalanka | 33 | 57 | 2 | 1 | 57.89 |
| Shivam Dube | lbw b Charith Asalanka | 25 | 24 | 1 | 2 | 104.17 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | b Wanindu Hasaranga | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 20.00 |
| Mohammed Siraj | not out | 5 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 45.45 |
| Arshdeep Singh | lbw b Charith Asalanka | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 0 , lb 4 , nb 0, w 4, pen 0) |
| Total | 230/10 (47.5 Overs, RR: 4.81) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asitha Fernando | 6 | 1 | 34 | 1 | 5.67 | |
| Mohamed Shiraz | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 9 | 1 | 39 | 2 | 4.33 | |
| Akila Dananjaya | 10 | 0 | 40 | 1 | 4.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 10 | 0 | 58 | 3 | 5.80 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 8.5 | 0 | 30 | 3 | 3.53 | |
