Indian team leader Rohit Sharma and his reactions during a game are always entertaining. The first one-day international between India and Sri Lanka at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo was no different. There was a funny moment during Sri Lanka’s batting that ended with Rohit’s amusing reaction. Dunith Wellalage blocked a fast, low ball from Washington Sundar on the fifth ball of the 29th over. India asked for a decision on whether the ball hit the batter’s leg without touching the bat, but no one seemed sure. The umpire also wasn’t convinced.
Rohit asked the players if they thought it was worth reviewing, but didn’t get a clear answer. “What? Tell me. Why are you looking at me? Should I do everything for you?” the captain said with a smile.
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In the first one-day international in Colombo on Friday, Sri Lanka’s top batsmen struggled against precise Indian bowling. However, smart half-centuries by Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage helped them reach a competitive 230 runs for the loss of eight wickets..
Nissanka (56 runs off 75 balls, with 9 fours) showed great focus, and Wellalage (67 not out off 65 balls, with 7 fours and 2 sixes) displayed confidence on a pitch that provided some spin. This was after Sri Lanka’s captain, Charith Asalanka, chose to bat first. Unfortunately, many of their teammates were not able to match their performance.
Sri Lanka got off to a nervous start when Mohammed Siraj dismissed Avishka Fernando. But Nissanka and Kusal Mendis (14 runs) added 39 runs for the second wicket, helping the hosts make a small comeback.
As was the case in the previous T20 series, the Sri Lankan team displayed a tendency to lose their wickets carelessly from that point onward.
This should not take away from the outstanding performance by the Indian bowlers, who managed to get several Sri Lankan batters to play poorly timed shots.
Mendis was dismissed leg before by Shivam Dube, who returned to one-day cricket after a five-year absence with that successful wicket.
Starting from a relatively secure position of 46 for two, the Sri Lankan innings quickly fell apart, reaching 101 for five in the 27th over.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, who has been Sri Lanka’s top batter in ODIs for some time now, struggled to understand the spinners during his difficult eight runs off 18 balls.
His firing emphasized that point. The right-handed batter tried to hit left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/33) by stepping forward, but he started his swing too soon, and eventually, he hit the ball to Shubman Gill at short cover.
Asalanka helped Nissanka add 31 runs for the fourth wicket, but Kuldeep Yadav’s special delivery got him out. The left-handed batter tried to guide the spinning ball away from him, but it went to Rohit Sharma at first slip.
While there was a lot of action at the other end, Nissanka stayed strong and played some nice shots, like a well-hit loft off Kuldeep Yadav to long-off for a boundary.
But Washington Sundar, who bowled his off-spin very well without much success, finally got on the wicket-takers’ list and caught a big player too.
A ball that curved in from the off-stump caught Nissanka lbw, leaving Sri Lanka at 101 for five.
Wellalage and Janith Liyanage (20) combined for 41 runs in 43 balls for the sixth wicket, showing some positive intent despite frequently struggling to read the Indian spinners.
Rohit’s puzzling decision to let Gill bowl his slow, loopy spin also contributed to the pair feeling more at ease, as Liyanage hit a short ball for a six.
However, Liyanage’s confusing choice to leave the field without using the DRS ended their partnership.
The right-handed batter tried to hit Axar’s ball, but it sharply turned and was caught by Rohit at first slip.
The Indian team made a big appeal, and Liyanage left the field, making the umpire signal out. Replays showed the ball didn’t touch the bat.
After that, Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga (24 runs, 35 balls, 1 four, 2 sixes) played with more purpose than some of their teammates in the top order, scoring 36 runs together for the seventh wicket. Wellalage was impressive after some early difficulties against Kuldeep. His strong hit through the covers for four runs off Washington and other clever shots showed his talent.
The left-handed batsman, who scored an additional 46 runs with Akila Dhananjaya for the eighth partnership, reached his first-ever fifty in one-day international cricket in 59 deliveries. This also helped his team surpass the 200-run target, which initially seemed out of reach.
