India maul Lanka in ODI opener

Wednesday 23rd August 2017 07:08 EDT
 
 

India registered a comfortable 9-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the opening ODI of the five-match series mainly on Shikhar Dhawan's marvellous batting display. After losing Rohit Sharma early, the unbeaten partnership between opener Shikhar Dhawan and skipper Virat Kohli set up a nine-wicket victory for the Men in Blue over the Sri Lankan side. Dhawan hit his 11th ODI hundred for which he was awarded with the 'Man of the Match' title. Kohli crossed fifty for 44th time in the format.

Having been put in to bat first, Sri Lanka got off to strong start, but after losing Niroshan Dickwella in the 25th over, wickets started to tumble for the hosts. Lanka's last nine wickets fell in the span of just 77 runs and the side was bundled out for mere 216 runs in just 43.2 overs.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel was the pick of the Indian bowlers as he scalped three wickets, giving away just 34 runs in his quota of 10 overs. He was ably supported by Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kedar Jadhav as they all chipped in with two-two wickets each.

For the hosts, wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella was the star performer with the bat as he played a prolific knock of 64 runs, which included eight boundaries. The other notable contributions came from Danushka Gunathilaka (35), Kusal Mendis (36) and Angelo Mathews (36).

India were lucky to get the first breakthrough when Gunathilaka mistimed an audacious reverse sweep and spooned to KL Rahul at extra cover. However, Kusal Mendis, who had produced a match-winning knock against India in the Champions Trophy, once again looked to be in ominous form. Mendis hit leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal for three boundaries in one over.

Dickwella too joined the party with consecutive boundaries off part-timer Kedar Jadhav over midwicket. Jadhav, however, justified the faith placed in him by Kohli by picking him ahead of Manish Pandey when he trapped Dickwella in front as he missed the line of a faster delivery while attempting to sweep. The Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman fell for a well-made 64 which came off 74 balls with eight fours.

Axar Patel struck a vital blow soon after by having Mendis bowled through the gate for 36. It was a poor dismissal as Mendis played all over the delivery while charging down the wicket. What followed was a blink and-you-miss type of procession by Sri Lankan batsmen to and from the dressing room. Former skipper Angelo Mathews played a lone hand remaining unbeaten on 36.

The Indian spin trio of Jadhav, Patel and Chahal shared seven wickets among them. Patel was the most economical of the three, finishing with three for 34, while Jhadav claimed 2-26 in five overs. Chahal was a touch expensive, going for 60 runs in his 10 overs with two wickets.


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