Thrilling Tie Between India and Sri Lanka in First ODI
The first one-day international between India and Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo ended in a dramatic tie, showcasing the unpredictable and thrilling nature of cricket. The match saw both sides scoring 230, leading to a nail-biting finish that left fans on the edge of their seats.
Asalanka’s Heroics Seal the Tie
Charith Asalanka emerged as the hero for Sri Lanka, delivering a stellar performance under pressure. With India needing just one run to win and having two wickets in hand with 15 balls remaining, Asalanka’s double strike changed the course of the match. He trapped Shivam Dube lbw for 25 and then dismissed Arshdeep Singh lbw for a duck on the very next ball, resulting in India being bowled out for 230 in 47.5 overs.
This tie echoed the last ODI tie between the two sides in February 2012 at the Adelaide Oval, where both teams had scored 236-9. Additionally, it followed another tie in the final Twenty20 international in Pallekele just four days prior, where India secured victory in the super over.
Sri Lanka’s Resilient Batting
Sri Lanka’s innings was anchored by Dunith Wellalage’s unbeaten 67 off 65 balls and a patient 56 from Pathum Nissanka. Their contributions helped Sri Lanka post a respectable total of 230-8. The Indian bowlers, led by Arshdeep Singh (2-47) and Axar Patel (2-33), managed to share the wickets among themselves and kept the pressure on the hosts.
India’s Response and Rohit’s Return
Rohit Sharma, making his first international appearance since leading India to T20 World Cup victory in June, set the foundation for India’s chase with a quickfire 58 off 47 balls. Despite his efforts, and contributions from Virat Kohli (24), KL Rahul (31), and Patel (33), India couldn’t capitalise fully, with Wanindu Hasaranga claiming 3-58 and Asalanka’s crucial 3-30 ultimately levelling the scores.
Reflecting on the match, Rohit Sharma remarked, “The score was gettable, just that you had to bat well to get there. We batted well in patches. It’s disappointing to not get one run but we won’t read into it too much. I’m proud of how we fought, but we should have got that one run.”
Looking Ahead
The thrilling conclusion of this match sets up an exciting second ODI, which will take place on Sunday at the same venue. Both teams will be eager to secure a win and take the lead in the three-match series, making it a must-watch for cricket enthusiasts.
This match highlighted the beauty of ODI cricket, where even a single run can change the outcome of the game. Both teams displayed commendable skill and determination, promising more thrilling encounters in the matches to come.
