Team India Won Against Sri Lanka In 1st ODI – Indian openers Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan smashed tons each with a 231-run opening stand as India crushed Angelo Mathews’ Sri Lanka by a huge 169-run margin.
With the West Indies series coming to an abrupt end, the BCCI invited over an ‘unfit’ Sri Lanka for a 5-match ODI series to fill in the gaps and the opener between the two neighbours got off to a great fashion.
Indian openers Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan smashed tons each with a 231-run opening stand as India crushed Angelo Mathews’ Sri Lanka by a huge 169-run margin.
At the toss, Mathews put India into bat and that’s where the former got it wrong.
A flat Baramati track proved all too well for Rahane and Dhawan with the Mumbaikar striking a 111 from 108 balls whereas Dhawan returned to form with a 107-ball 113. This could be a positive sign for India as Dhawan returned to form at the right moment just when the World Cup is around the corner.
It was Dhawan’s first hundred since his 119 against West Indies in Kanpur in November last year. Even as Suresh Raina, appearing in his 200th ODI, hit a quickfire 52, the dissapoinment came when skipper Virat Kohli failed to produce the magic. The stand in skipper could only muster 22 runs but will be relieved that his young turks produce such magnificent job as they hit a total of 363 for five.
In reply, Indian bowlers had a fine evening as well. Ishant Sharma plucked 4 wickets and conceded just 34 runs in his 8 overs in return to the ODI team. He had both Kumar Sangakkara (13) and Ashan Priyanjan (12) caught behind and later added two lower-order batsmen to his kitty. Young spinner Akshar Patel again produced a fine performance with the ball that also included the wicket of veteran batsman, Mahela Jayawardene (43).
Patel was very impressive not only with the ball but also with the bat. The young spinner amazed all with his big-hitting skills as he smacked Dhammika Prasad for two sixes in the last over in his unbeaten 14 off four balls.
The visitors came into the series with no match practise and it showed with their sloppy fielding and a depleted attack that lacked sting in the absence of Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath. Sangakkara dropped Dhawan on 10 and Rahane on 38 in what would have been custom diving catches behind the stumps for the veteran.
Skipper Mathews was blamed the batsmen for the defeat. He said, “Our batsmen’s approach has to be a very positive, look to score runs whether spinners or pacers, we should look to score runs all the time. Chasing 360-plus you need to show a different approach in the first 10 overs. I thought our downfall was the first 10 overs while batting,” told reporters at the post match interaction.
But with the signs of victory for India, the worrying factor was the injury to pacer Varun Aaron. The youngster was clocking more than 150 kph but not before the injury that had the bowler walk away from the ground.
The two teams will now travel to Ahmedabad for the second match on Thursday.
