Charith Asalanka ensured that his first match as Sri Lanka’s ODI captain would be one to remember with two wickets in two balls that gave the hosts an unlikely tie in the first match of a three-game series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Asalanka wasn’t the only hero though, with the 21-year-old Dunith Wellalage smashing 67 off 65 balls before taking 2-39 with his left-arm spin.
Sri Lanka had done well to get to 230/8 after slumping to 142/6, but that seemed quite inadequate as Rohit Sharma, India’s captain, motored to a half-century off just 33 balls. But India then lost three wickets for 12, and further wobbles left Sri Lanka in control at 197/7. Shivam Dube, batting at No. 8, looked to have won it for the visitors courtesy of four and two sixes late on, only for Asalanka to have the last word.
The last time these two teams had met in an ODI in Sri Lanka, Mohammed Siraj had skittled the hosts for just 50. That was clearly a factor in Sri Lanka’s circumspect start. Avishka Fernando fell in Siraj’s second over, but Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka made it through the Powerplay without further damage. But then, Mendis fell to Dube’s medium pace, and Sadeera Samarawickrama miscued one to Shubman Gill off Axar Patel.
Nissanka showed both patience and class in his 75-ball 56, but once he followed Asalanka to the pavilion, Sri Lanka was in deep trouble. That became worse when Janith Liyanage walked off despite not even having edged the delivery from Axar. But with excellent support from Wanindu Hasaranga (24) and Akila Danajaya (17), Wellalage struck seven fours and two sixes in an innings that brought the crowd to life.
With the ball too, it was he who induced that slog sweep from Rohit that saw India’s skipper trapped leg before. He had already had Gill caught off the top edge, going for a hoick, but it was Rohit’s wicket that transformed the game. Neither Virat Kohli nor Shreyas Iyer could play an innings of substance, and the decision to promote Washington Sundar to No. 4 flopped badly.
KL Rahul, picked as wicketkeeper in place of Rishabh Pant, appeared to have swung it back India’s way with a steady 31, but he too fell to the slog, this time off Hasaranga. That set the stage for the dramatic finale. Dube was given out leg-before after Sri Lanka reviewed a not-out decision, and Arshdeep Singh was plumb in front trying to heave the winning runs over the infield. The looks of disbelief in the Indian dressing room said it all.
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