Virat Kohli and his men continued their victory run in the opening game of the first ODI of the 5-match India vs Sri Lanka series in Dambulla. After restricting the home team to 216 runs in the first innings, Team India smashed the Lankans by a huge margin of 9 wickets with 127 balls remaining. While chasing a target of 200 or more, this is India’s biggest win in ODIs in terms of balls to spare. Opener Shikhar Dhawan played a fantastic knock of 132 runs which includes 20 fours and 3 sixes. He hit the 11th century of his One Day career. At the other end, skipper Virat Kohli also played a fabulous inning and knocked the 44th half-century of his career. With this victory, the men in blue now lead the series by 1-0.
Shikhar Dhawan received the Man of the Match award for his game-winning knock.
Earlier today, Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Sri Lankan side had a furious start as the openers Niroshan Dickwella and Danushka Gunathilaka played fearlessly in the beginning. Sri Lanka lost their first wicket in the 14th over as Gunathilaka was out on 34. Later, along with Kusal Mendis, Dickwella continued the pace and built up a 65-run stand for the second wicket. He also went onto score a half-century which was his 5th in One Day Internationals.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) August 20, 2017
Soon the Indian bowlers, who were getting beaten brutally in the beginning, were back on the game and started outplaying the bowlers. On the other hand, right after Dickwella’s wicket that the Sri Lankans lost the plot and started losing their wickets at regular intervals. Apart from the top-three batsmen, no other player stood up to the Indian pressure and went back to the pavilion one by one.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) August 20, 2017
By the end of the first innings, Angelo Mathews gave his best to stick at the wicket but the lack of support from the other end resulted in a low total for the hosts. Mathews apart, other middle-order batsmen Upul Tharanga (13), Chamara Kapugedera (1) Wanidu Hasaranga (2) scored a total of 16 runs only. Lower-order players Thisara Perera (0), Lakshan Sandakan (5) and Lasith Malinga (8) tried to make up for the middle-order collapse but failed and thus, after a perfect start, the Islanders were restricted to 216.
— cricket (@84107010ghwj) August 20, 2017
For India, left-arm spinner Axar Patel scalped three wickets while Bumrah, Chahal and Jadhav took two wickets each.
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