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Team India failed to hold their nerves as Sri Lanka pulled off a thrilling tie in the first ODI at the R Premadasa stadium on August 2. Sri Lanka posted 230/8, thanks to Pathum Nissanka's 56 and Dunith Wellalage's unbeaten 67. In reply, India couldn't capitalise on a good start and failed to chase down the lowly total despite Rohit Sharma's 58. India were eventually folded for 230 in 47.5 overs.
Rohit Sharma provided India with a blazing start to the innings, scoring a rapid-fire 58 off 47 balls. His innings was studded with seven fours and three sixes as he dominated the Sri Lankan bowlers. However, Shubman Gill struggled to find his rhythm and was dismissed for 16 by Dunith Wellalage, who also accounted for Rohit's wicket with a well-pitched delivery.
Axar and Rahul came to India's rescue
India suffered a setback when Washington Sundar, promoted to number four, was dismissed cheaply for five runs by Akila Dananjaya. With the score at 87 for three after 15.4 overs, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship with a crucial 43-run partnership. Their stand brought India within touching distance of victory, requiring just 100 runs from the remaining 23 overs.
India's middle order stumbles
India's progress towards victory was halted abruptly with the quick dismissals of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer, leaving them at a precarious 132 for five. The game was evenly poised at this point. KL Rahul and Axar Patel steadied the ship with a crucial partnership of 57 runs for the sixth wicket. However, India's momentum was derailed once again as both Rahul and Patel were dismissed within a short span.
Sri Lanka fight back after top-order collapse
Earlier, Sri Lanka's batting innings was marked by a top-order collapse against India's precise bowling attack. However, half-centuries from Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage enabled them to post a respectable total of 230 for eight. The pitch offered some assistance to the spinners, but several Lankan batsmen failed to build on the solid foundation laid by Nissanka and Wellalage.
The innings began on a shaky note with Avishka Fernando dismissed early by Mohammed Siraj. Nissanka and Kusal Mendis steadied the ship with a 39-run partnership. However, Sri Lanka's tendency to lose wickets in clusters, as witnessed in the recent T20I series, resurfaced.
India's bowlers were instrumental in inducing errors from the Lankan batsmen. Shivam Dube, making his ODI comeback after a five-year absence, claimed the wicket of Kusal Mendis through an LBW dismissal.
Sri Lanka's innings, which had started promisingly at 46 for two, suffered a dramatic collapse, reducing them to 101 for five in the 27th over.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, a key player for Sri Lanka, struggled to decipher the spin bowling. His dismissal by Axar Patel, who was trapped in front, highlighted the team's difficulties against the Indian spinners.
Charith Asalanka managed to add 31 runs with Nissanka for the fourth wicket, but his innings was cut short by a well-flighted delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. The left-hander edged the ball to Rohit Sharma at first slip. While Nissanka showcased his class with some elegant strokes, including a lofted boundary off Kuldeep, he eventually fell prey to Washington Sundar, who broke through after a series of economical overs.
Sri Lanka's lower order resists
Nissanka's dismissal, trapped lbw by Washington Sundar, precipitated a further collapse. The score plummeted to 101 for five. However, Janith Liyanage and Dunith Wellalage added a crucial 41 runs for the sixth wicket, showing some resistance against the relentless Indian spin attack. Rohit Sharma's decision to bowl Shubman Gill's off-spin proved counterproductive as Liyanage capitalized, hitting a six. However, a misjudgment by Liyanage, who declined a DRS review for a clear not out, ended his innings prematurely. Axar Patel claimed the wicket, trapping Liyanage in front. Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga provided a much-needed impetus to the innings, adding 36 runs for the seventh wicket. Wellalage, in particular, played with maturity and intent, showcasing his ability with some impressive strokeplay. A partnership of 46 runs with Akila Dhananjaya for the eighth wicket helped Sri Lanka surpass the 200-run mark.
Meanwhile, the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka will be played on August 4.
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