India and Sri Lanka played an exciting game as the first ODI match at Colombo ended in a tie. India just needed one run to win the game as Charith Asalanka did the trick with the ball. The Sri Lankan skipper got the key wicket of Shivam Dube and then dismissed number 11 Arshdeep Singh to achieve the tied game.
Sri Lankan spinners Dunith Wellage, Wanindu Hasaranga, and Charith Asalanka kept a tight leash on the famed Indian batting unit. Hasaranga in particular got the huge wickets of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.
With the second ODI set to be played on Sunday, the onus will be on the batting units of both sides. Sri Lanka and India struggled with the bat as the bowlers had a huge say during the course of the game.
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Here are the top 3 batting performances from the game
3- Pathum Nissanka
The Sri Lankan opening batter continued his good run of form as he scored 56 runs from 75 balls. The right-handed batter hit 9 fours in his knock and held up one end as the Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at the other end. Nissanka was severe on anything short or wide put the bad balls away and kept the scoreboard ticking. His presence in the middle made the Indian bowlers uncomfortable before he was dismissed for 56.
2- Rohit Sharma
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma returned to the field after a month away from the game. He signalled his intent when he stepped down the track to hit Asitha Fernando for a six. Two more sixes followed along with a few vintage Rohit Sharma drives and cuts and pulls. Rohit Sharma took the attack to the Sri Lankan bowlers and enabled India to get a good start with the bat. Sadly just as he was set for a big score he was out LBW to Dunith Wellage.
1- Dunith Wellage
At a time when Sri Lanka were looking for a hero to emerge, they found one in the form of Dunith Wellage. The youngster took control of the batting unit and for the first time made sure the home team didn’t collapse under pressure. His key partnerships with Wanindu Hasaranga and later Akila Dhananjaya were the turning point of the game. As Wellage grew in confidence the Indian bowlers lost their composure and their lengths. His fifty was greeted with huge applause as Dunith Wellage turned out to be the biggest saviour for Sri Lanka.