Team India began their ODI leg of the Sri Lankan tour in a promising fashion after restricting the hosts to a mediocre 216 after winning the toss and putting the hosts in. The Sri Lankan openers began in a rollicking fashion and punished the Indian bowlers at will. Both Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka collected boundaries at will and shared a brilliant partnership to get the hosts off to a terrific start.
The visitors then came back strongly and started taking wickets at regular intervals which halted their progress. They were unable to execute the big shots to perfection and kept finding the fielders. The spinners bowled brilliantly and bagged 7 wickets between them. Axar was the wrecker in chief with 3 wickets while Yuzvendra Chahal and Kedar Jadhav chipped in with a couple each.
The fielding was also brilliant from the Indians as they didn’t let a single chance go. Virat Kohli inflicted a brilliant under arm throw which resulted in the run out of Chamara Kapugedera while Kedar Jadhav which is not known for his agility in the field also pulled off a brilliant catch in the outfield.
The chase was expected to be a cakewalk for the visitors given the formidable batting line-up they possess. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan walked out in the middle to begin proceedings. Dhawan began in brisk fashion smashing a couple of boundaries to set things for him and India. Rohit Sharma played out a few balls like he generally does at the beginning of the innings but fell at the score of 4 in a bizarre fashion.
While attempting to complete a run his bat got stuck outside the popping crease and his feet was in the air when Lankan wicket-keeper Niroshan Dickwella whipped off the bails. It was unfortunate, to say the least. If it was after September 1, Rohit would have been safe as his feet had crossed the line but hadn’t touched the crease.
Despite his wicket, India is still the firm favourites and the when the article was written they were placed at 36/1 at the of 7 overs with Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli at the crease.
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