After clinching the T20 series against Sri Lanka, Team India faced Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series. The first match of the series started with a disappointment for the Indian side. Even While chasing a small total, they ended up in a tie. In the last over, Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka’s two crucial scalps turned the match into a tie. Even before that, Sri Lanka ended a match twice in 1996 and 1999. Fans relived the moment after yesterday.Â
Asalanka’s Match-Saving Scalps:
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka took two crucial wickets in the opening ODI, resulting in a tie. India’s total matched Sri Lanka’s score of 230 on Friday at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Asalanka, an off-spinner, bowled the 48th over with India needing five runs from 18 balls. He first dismissed Shivam Dube, trapping him lbw for 25.Â
At the very end, India needed just 1 run in 14 balls. Then he removed Arshdeep Singh, leaving India all out for 230. With no Super Over to break the tie, the match ended in a draw. This is the second time in 50-over cricket that these teams have finished with an equal score. The series now stands at 0-0, with two more matches to play.
India’s Dramatic Tie:
After winning the T20 series with a 3-0 margin. Team India was high on confidence. After the T20 series, some of the big names of Team India made a comeback, After winning the toss, Sri Lanka batted first. While bowling in the first innings, Team India bowlers secured some early scalps. But while opening the innings, Pathum Nissanka played a responsible innings of 56 runs in 75 balls. Dunith Wellalage gave a perfect finish and remained unbeaten on 67 runs in 65 balls, The Indian side restricted them to 230 runs.Â
The target was not that hard to chase but Team India fumbled in the end. While opening the innings, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma maintained a 75-run partnership. After that, Gill walked away on 16 runs. The Indian skipper played an exciting knock of 58 runs. Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer added 43 rubs together. But Axar Patel and KL Rahul made an effective partnership of 57 runs in 92 balls. But those two dismissals of the last over changed the game and the match ended in a tie.Â
The Scenario Echoes Scenes from 1996 and 1999:
With this tie, Sri Lanka reminded their previous two tie matches from past fixtures. In November 1996, Sri Lanka vs New Zealand’s fourth ODI match ended in a tie. In the second innings, New Zealand’s crucial two wickets in the last over turned the match into a tie. Danny Morrison dismissed captain Arjuna Ranatunga and Muthiah Muralidaran in the last and the match took a dramatic turn and ended in a tie.Â
The incident was recreated in 1999. In the third match of the Champions Trophy, Pakistan and Sri Lanka locked horns. While chasing the target of 196 runs, Sri Lanka was on 194-8. In the 49th over, Shoaib Malik dismissed Mithiah Muralidaran. In the first delivery of the last over Abdul Razzaq dismissed Chamara Silva and the match ended in a tie. A similar scenario repeated in the in the first ODI between India and Sri Lanka.Â
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