Dambulla: After the domination set by the Indian spinners, opener Shikhar Dhawan (132 n o, 90b, 20×4, 3×6) and skipper Virat Kohli (82 n o, 70b, 10×4, 1×6) played wonderful knocks to lead India to an emphatic nine-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first of the five-match ODI series here, Sunday.
The Delhi batting duo added a sensational 197 runs for the unbeaten second wicket after the early departure of comeback man Rohit Sharma.
The hosting nation’s bowlers looked hapless as the only wicket of Sharma came through a run out. It was unfortunate for the right-hander as he was well past the crease while searching for a quick single, but was in the air when a direct throw from Chamara Kapugedera hit the stumps. He was watching the ball, then eventually sticks his bat down, trying to drag it to safety but it stuck in the pitch and spilled out of his hand.
Dhawan also got a lifeline before completing his 11th ODI century, when he was dropped by wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella off a Vishwa Fernando delivery, while on 87.
But after that, there was no looking back for the Indians as the left and right-hand combination of Dhawan and Kohli played smart cricket to take India home in just 28.5 overs.
Earlier, Sri Lanka frittered away a promising start to be bundled out for 216, losing nine wickets for 77 runs. Sri Lankan openers Dickwella (64, 74b, 8×4) and Danushka Gunathilaka (35, 44b, 4×4) gave the hosts a solid start with a 74-run stand. However, from a solid 139 for one, Sri Lanka went on to a self destruction mode to be bundled out in the 44th over.
Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (3/34), playing his first international match since October last year, was the stand out bowler for India with a career-best figure. He was ably supported by leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (2/60) and off-spinner Kedar Jadhav (2/26). Among pacers, Jasprit Bumrah (2/22) was the only successful bowler.
Dickwella and Gunathilaka took the Lanka score to 55 in the first ten overs. But things started happening when the spinners, particularly Jadhav, came on to bowl.
In the 14th over, Gunathilaka perished playing a needless reverse sweep off Chahal. Kusal Mendis (36, 37b, 5×4) then put on 65 runs with Dickwella. Jadhav though trapped the opener lbw in the 25th over, with the batsman not surviving the DRS review either.
With the scorecard reading 150/3 after Patel dismissing Mendis in the 28th over, the collapse came unexpectedly thereafter. Angelo Mathews (36 n o, 50b, 1×4, 1×6) however, held his nerves to take the hosts past 200.
press trust of India
