1st ODI: Team India collapses as Sri Lanka manage tie
The ODI series opener between India and Sri Lanka has resulted in a tie. India suffered a shocking collapse while chasing the 231-run target at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Rohit Sharma scored a fifty. Earlier, SL were restricted to 230/8 as Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage scored fifties. This is the second tied ODI match between India and the Lankan team.
Sri Lanka post a paltry total
While Nissanka (56) scored a brilliant fifty at the top, four of SL's other top-five batters couldn't even touch the 15-run mark. Wellalage arrived with the scorecard reading 101/5. He added 41 runs with Janith Liyanage (20) before being involved in brief stands with Wanindu Hasaranga (24) and Akila Dananjaya (17). He scored 67* as SL finished at 230/8.
Here's how India replied
India were off to a fiery start as Rohit (58) dominated a 75-run stand with fellow opener Shubman Gill (16). However, the likes of Virat Kohli (24) and Shreyas Iyer (23) threw away their starts as India were reduced to 132/5. A 57-run stand between Axar Patel (33) and KL Rahul (31) rescued India before the latter departed.
Another collapse for India
Both Axar and Rahul departed in quick succession as India went down to 197/7. Shivam Dube, playing his first ODI since 2019, then played a handy 25-run cameo as the scores were leveled and India had two wickets in hand. However, Charith Asalanka then dismissed Dube and Arshdeep Singh on successive deliveries and the game got tied. India finished at 230/10 (47.5 overs).
A fine hand from Nissanka
Nissanka batted well amid tough circumstances and scored 56 off 75 balls (9 fours). The opener has raced to 2,281 ODI runs at 44.72. As per ESPNcricinfo, this was his 14th ODI fifty while he has smashed six tons in this format. In five games versus India, he now has 136 runs at 27.20 (50s: 2).
Maiden fifty for Wellalage
Wellalage smoked an unbeaten 67 off 65 balls. He smoked seven fours and two sixes. The left-arm spinner later claimed 2/39 in nine overs. This knock has taken Wellalage's tally to 290 ODI runs at 22.30. 152 of his runs have come versus India at 38. He has also raced to 25 wickets in the format.
A counter-attacking knock from Rohit
Rohit scored 58 off 47 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes. During his stay, Rohit raced past 13,000 (now 13,009) List A runs as he averages 46-plus. The tally now includes 34 tons and 69 fifties. In ODIs, Rohit has completed 10,767 runs at an average of 49.16. He owns 31 tons and 56 fifties.
His numbers versus Sri Lanka
As per ESPNcricinfo, Rohit has surpassed 1,900 (now 1,922) runs in 53 ODIs versus the Lankans. In addition to six tons, he has now slammed his 8th fifty. His batting average is 45.76 against Sri Lanka. Rohit also became the fifth Indian to complete 1,000 (now 1,001) fours in ODIs. He has also tallied 326 ODI maximums.
Hasaranga races to 87 scalps
Hasaranga finished with 3/58 in 10 overs. With this spell, the leg-spinner has raced to 87 wickets across 55 games at an economy of 5.12. He now has seven wickets in nine matches against India (ER: 5.28). Playing his 27th match at home, he has completed 50 (now 51) wickets. His economy in this regard reads 5.05.
50 List A wickets for Asalanka
Asalanka finished with 3/30 in 8.5 overs. Playing his 60th ODI game, the off-spinner now has eight scalps at an economy of 4.74. Seven of his scalps have come against India as he returned with 4/18 when these two sides met in the 2023 Asia Cup. Meanwhile, Asalanka has also completed 50 wickets in List A cricket (now 52).
Second SL-IND tied ODI
As mentioned, this was the second tied ODI match involving India and Sri Lanka. In 2012, the two teams played out a tie at the Adelaide Oval as both sides finished at 236/9. As per ESPNcricinfo, India have now played out 10 ties in the 50-over format. The Lankans have six ties in this regard.
