Sri Lanka lost the low-scoring encounter at R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo but the biggest positive from the game was Dunith Wellalage’s all-round show. Wellalage pumped the breaks on India’s flying start by getting rid of the top order within the first 13 balls of his spell. While he got Shubman Gill’s wicket with a jaffa of delivery, the 20-year-old revealed that his favourite wicket was Virat Kohli’s.
“I want to thank my coaches and management, especially my spin bowling coach. I tried to bowl my normal variations and not give runs. My dream wicket was Kohli's wicket. The surface is uneven and it is not easy but we have a good batting line-up, we will give a good fight,” Wellalage told the broadcasters after India were bowled out for 213.
Wellalage became the third left-arm spinner to take a fifer against India in ODIs. He also became the youngest Sri Lankan to register a five-wicket haul at 20 years and 246 days. He broke Charitha Buddhika's record who took a fifer against Zimbabwe in 2011 when he was 21 years old.
Later, Wellalage contributed with the bat too. He remained unbeaten for 42 from 46 deliveries in the run chase as he ran out of partners. Sri Lanka were bowled out for 172 and lost the match by 41 runs but Wellalage was adjudged ‘Player of the match’ for overall performance.
“First of all I want to congratulate the Indian team. They have so many experienced players but unfortunately, we lost the game but we have another game and we want to put up a good fight. Kuldeep is a great bowler, I tried to play my normal game with a positive mindset. I want to thank my teammates and my coaching staff - they gave me great support,” the youngster said in the post-match presentation.
Wellalage has become the fourth Sri Lankan all-rounder to take a fifer and score 40 or more runs in an ODI. Sanath Jayasuriya, Dasun Shanaka, and Thilan Thushara have achieved the feat for Sri Lanka before. However, Wellalage is the first to achieve the feat in the Asia Cup.
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