Twitter Reactions: Avishka Fernando's terrific ton pushes Sri Lanka to seal the ODI opener

South Africa is touring Sri Lanka for six white-ball matches which comprise three ODIs and as many T20Is. The first ODI of the series got underway at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on September 02. Sri Lanka won the first ODI of the series by 14 runs and got 1-0 up in the series. After winning the toss, the home side decided to show up with willows first and mark their authority at home. Owing to some terrific batting class, they posted good 300 runs on the board.

The classy opener of Lanka Avishaka Fernando came firm enough to set the tone for his team and got going with a stunning century (118 off 115). After Fernando, Charith Asalanka made a remarkable contribution as he added 72 runs from his end. Dhananjaya de Silva also looked keen to get his half-century but missed it by six runs.

The lower order couldn’t add much otherwise the total could have even crossed the 300 run mark. Ace pacer Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj picked two wickets each while the latter refused to leak runs as he maintained the economy of 3.00. Aiden Markram and Tabraiz Shami also got one wicket each under their belts.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s victory in the first ODI

Impressive win for Sri Lanka . Closer than what some thought it would be . A very happy Sri Lankan 😅😅😅 #SLvSA

— MOKKUCRICKET (@Fullbunger) September 2, 2021

We did it ❤️ #SLvSA #SriLankaCricketIsAlive 🔥 pic.twitter.com/2Fh7x92tW8

— Darshana K (@ItsMeKande) September 2, 2021

That's the young and fearless team we all wanted!
Well done #TeamSriLanka
We have waited so so long for this kind of a play!
Keep up the momentum and restore our former glory!
WAY TO GO BOYS 🎉#SLvSA

— Afzal (@TonyStarkLK) September 2, 2021

නියමයි නියමයි බෝයිස්… well played. #SLvSA
To think that this was all possible course Dickwella and Mendis wanted to have a smoke 😂

— Jay Tissera 🇱🇰 (@Jay_Tissera19) September 2, 2021

SRI LANKA WIN 🇱🇰 Up the Lions 🦁 #SLvSA

— Rob Lewis (@elitebandwagon) September 2, 2021

Bat well+ give your bowlers something to defend = win the game..simple really… Go🇱🇰#SLvSA

— Shiyan Jayaweera (@Shiyan82) September 2, 2021

How happy is d coach
Well done boys ❤️😌#SLvSA

— Ammu (@aisforapplez) September 2, 2021

Done & Dusted

#SLvSA

— ⓩⓐⓕⓝⓘ (@Mzafni) September 2, 2021

What a pull back srilanka, semma bowling. Waiting for the next match#SLvSA

— Karthi (@usernametherila) September 2, 2021

@OfficialSLC on top at the start of a series.. Now this is progress #SLvSA #SLWIN

— Yoshan Marambe (@Yoshan_14) September 2, 2021

A well deserved well played win for @OfficialSLC to start the series and SA tour…

now to keep the momentum going.. #SLvSA

— Ahamed Nishadh (@ahamednishadh) September 2, 2021

SL wins but SA fought hard and SL were tested with some excellent batting from SA! Good game and reckon our boys will gain confidence out of this! #SLvSA

— vidulaJ (@vidulaj) September 2, 2021

That's a good win. A really good win for @OfficialSLC. Outstanding innings from @Avishka28 Little bit of luck with the Bavuma injury, but getting 300 at RPS should always be enough #SLvSA

— Shanaka Amarasinghe (@ShanakaScore) September 2, 2021

Congratulations Lions 👏👏👏#SLvSA #slcricket

— ඩුලාන් 🇱🇰 (@Dulan_Is_Here) September 2, 2021

As visitors walked up to take the target, Markram again set the tone for visitors but just missed his century by four runs. He played a classy knock of 96 runs to put South Africa in the safe space but didn’t get much support from his opening partner Malan. Talking about their middle order, Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma shouldered some responsibilities by adding 59 and 38 runs respectively. Heinrich Klaasen’s (36 off 31) efforts in the end also couldn’t save the match for visitors.

Akila Dananjaya picked two wickets for the hosts while Praveen Jaywickrama maintained the best economy of 4.70. Karunaratne and Hasaranga also got one wicket each under their belts in the first ODI. Lanka also came up in the series after recently winning the T20I series against India on their soil only.