India Vs Sri Lanka ODI Match Ends in a Thrilling Tie.
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Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill India. Getty Images |
Sri Lanka 230 for 8 (Wellalage 67*, Nissanka 56, Axar 2-33, Arshdeep 2-47) tied with India 230 (Rohit 58, Axar 33, Asalanka 3-30, Hasaranga 3-58)
In a dramatic finish, Sri Lanka, at 101 for 5, seemed on the verge of a familiar collapse against India but managed to tie the match with a spirited effort both with the bat and the ball. Charith Asalanka, leading Sri Lanka in ODI cricket for the first time, played a pivotal role by dismissing Shivam Dube and No. 11 Arshdeep Singh off successive deliveries on a challenging Khettarama pitch, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
India needed five runs from 18 balls with just two wickets remaining, making it a tense finish. Dube, having recently hit a six off Wanindu Hasaranga, looked poised to finish the game. Asalanka, despite having options like Asitha Fernando or debutant Mohamed Shiraz, chose to bowl himself and delivered for Sri Lanka.
After playing out the first two balls of the 48th over, Dube hit the third ball through the covers to level the scores. However, Asalanka trapped Dube lbw with a slider on the next ball, dismissing him for 25 off 24 balls after a successful review overturned the original not-out decision. Asalanka then had Arshdeep Singh lbw for a duck, sealing the tie with another well-placed delivery.
Sri Lanka's seam attack, weakened by injuries and illness, was supplemented by a robust spin lineup that included Asalanka, Akila Dananjaya, and Dunith Wellalage. Wellalage played a crucial role in India’s collapse, dismissing Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma in successive overs. Dananjaya also contributed by removing Washington Sundar, who had been promoted to No. 4.
Hasaranga’s three-wicket haul, including that of Virat Kohli for 24, was instrumental. He restricted Kohli to just five runs off ten balls before dismissing him with a well-disguised delivery. Rahul then built a 57-run partnership with Axar Patel, but Rahul’s departure for 31 off 43 balls and Axar’s subsequent dismissal for 33 off 57 balls left India in a precarious position. Dube’s late cameo was insufficient to secure victory.
Rohit Sharma, in his return to ODI cricket after a T20I retirement, initially dominated the powerplay with a quickfire 58 off 47 balls, including a six off Dananjaya. However, Wellalage’s dismissal of Rohit and the subsequent collapse left India struggling.
Sri Lanka’s powerplay was less productive, scoring just 33 runs from 45 balls. Mohammed Siraj and Dube made early breakthroughs, but Pathum Nissanka’s half-century provided a stable platform for Sri Lanka. Wellalage, who was promoted to No. 7, contributed crucial partnerships and reached his maiden ODI fifty, countering Washington Sundar’s offspin with inventive shots.
Despite some sharp turns and bounce from India’s spinners, including Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, Sri Lanka’s spinners proved more effective, forcing an unlikely tie. The result leaves India with much to ponder as they seek a strong response in the ODI series.
