IND v SL, 1st ODI, Review: Visitors break their losing streak, thump India by 7 wickets

Sri Lanka has finally managed to break their 12-match losing streak in the ODIs and has won the first of the three-match series against India. The low-scoring encounter in Dharamsala proved to be the undoing of the hosts as the batting collapsed with the ball swinging in helpful conditions. However, the bowlers tried their best to make the match out of the paltry score but Sri Lanka was the better team on the day and won the game by 6 wickets thereby taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Both Rohit Sharma and Thisara Perera made their debut as a captain at the international level as the latter won the all-important toss. Shreyas Iyer was handed a debut at number 3 position to replace the regular skipper Virat Kohli who has been rested for the series. Sri Lanka got off to a dream start as both the Indian openers Rohit and Shikhar Dhawan were sent back with hardly any runs on the board.

Lakmal and Mathews wreak havoc

Suranga Lakmal and Angelo Mathews who took the new ball wreaked havoc in the Indian camp as the ball swung a lot off the pitch and in the air as well. The debutant Iyer and Dinesh Karthik stayed for some time at the wicket only to stutter as the latter was caught plumb in front by Lakmal and ended his painful stay of 18 deliveries for a duck. Soon Iyer was castled by Nuwan Pradeep after Manish Pandey followed the suit which reduced India to 16/5.

Dhoni’s rescue act

The procession didn’t stop with Hardik Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar edging the ball behind the stumps as the scorecard for India looked dreaded at 29/7. Their lowest total in ODIs of 54 was against the same side and it was in danger to be bettered. Though, as it happens so many times, the cool and calm MS Dhoni came to the fore for the side who got set first with some streaky strokes and then played beautifully to avoid any aberration to his team.

Kuldeep Yadav supported him nicely and at one stage they were scoring easily on a day when the runs were hard to come by. Both added 41 runs in quick time as the fans started to believe as Kuldeep was stumped off Akila Dananjaya only to shatter all their hopes. Dhoni then opened his arms and added some crucial runs to take India past the three-figure mark. In the process, he notched up a fighting half-century when all the batsmen surrendered meekly around him. But Jasprit Bumrah was also dismissed only with Yuzvendra Chahal left to come.

Dhoni went on the attack and connected a couple of shots which entertained the spectators who had little to cheer on the day. But he too mistimed a lofted shot off Thisara Perera as the hosts were folded for 112 in the 39th over. Lakmal was the man who dismantled India at the top and returned with the match-winning figures of 4/13 from his 10-overs which he bowled on the trot. He was well supported by Mathews and Pradeep as all the bowlers picked wickets on a perfect day on the field for the visitors.

Sri Lanka stutter but finally reach the target

Sri Lanka had to score only 113 to break their painful losing streak of 12 matches in the 50-over format and there was a possibility of a collapse given their recent record. Expectedly, they lost Danushka Gunathilaka and Lahiru Thirimanne early which brought in the early jitters on 19/2 in the seventh over. Upul Tharanga was reprieved by Jasprit Bumrah’s no-ball and he cashed in on the chance with some quick runs. Angelo Mathews was calm at the other end as they stitched 46 runs in no time. Tharanga edged a full-pitched delivery off Pandya to give the glimmer of a hope to the Indians but the match was already lost.

Niroshan Dickwella had some fun with quick runs as Sri Lanka chased down the target in the 21st over with seven wickets in hand. He remained unbeaten on 30 off just 26 deliveries and his partner Mathews was not out on 21. There were all smiles in the Lankan camp and it was natural given their run in the format this year. Indian bowlers tried their best but India just didn’t have enough runs on the board. Suranga Lakmal was deservedly awarded the Man of the Match for his sensational swing bowling.

Sri Lanka would look to take the momentum into the second ODI and seal the series in Mohali itself. India, on the other hand, needs to improve on a lot of aspects and take the series into the decider by winning the second game.

Brief Scores:

India 112/10 after 38.2 overs (MS Dhoni 65; S Lakmal 4/13, N Pradeep 2/37)

Sri Lanka 114/3 after 20.4 overs (U Tharanga 49, N Dickwella 26*, A Mathews 25*)

Result: Sri Lanka won by seven wickets

Man of the Match: Suranga Lakmal