Exciting Tie in Colombo: Rohit Sharma and Charith Asalanka Shine in First ODI
In an exciting first ODI held in Colombo, Sri Lanka’s spinners, particularly skipper Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga, managed to restrict India’s run flow despite a strong start by Indian skipper Rohit Sharma. The match ended in a thrilling tie, leaving the three-match series at 0-0.
India’s Run Chase
Chasing a target of 231 runs, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma gave the team an aggressive start along with opener Shubman Gill. Rohit hit Asitha Fernando for a four and six in the first over and continued his attacking play, reaching his half-century in just 33 balls. However, Sri Lankan bowlers fought back, with Dunith Wellalage and Dhananjaya de Silva taking crucial wickets.
Despite efforts from Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Axar Patel, India struggled to maintain momentum. The match came down to the wire, with India needing just one run with one wicket in hand. Charith Asalanka bowled the final over, cleaning up Arshdeep Singh and ending the match in a tie.
Sri Lanka’s Innings
Earlier, Sri Lanka decided to bat first and posted a total of 230/8. Pathum Nissanka and Dunith Wellalage were the standout performers, scoring 56 and 66 runs respectively. Indian bowlers, led by Axar Patel, put up a solid performance, with almost every bowler picking up a wicket.
| Brief Scores |
|---|
| Sri Lanka: 230/8 in 50 overs (Dunith Wellalage 67*, Pathum Nissanka 56, Axar Patel 2/33) |
| India: 230 in 47.5 overs (Rohit Sharma 58, Axar Patel 33, Charith Asalanka 3/30) |
The series remains tied at 0-0 with two more matches to go.
Doubts Revealed
ODI -: ODI stands for One Day International, which is a type of cricket match that lasts for one day. Each team gets to bat and bowl for a limited number of overs, usually 50.
Colombo -: Colombo is the capital city of Sri Lanka, an island country in South Asia. It is known for its beautiful beaches and rich history.
Rohit Sharma -: Rohit Sharma is a famous Indian cricketer known for his powerful batting. He is one of the best opening batsmen in the world.
Charith Asalanka -: Charith Asalanka is a Sri Lankan cricketer who is known for his skills in both batting and bowling. He is a key player for the Sri Lankan team.
Spinners -: Spinners are bowlers in cricket who make the ball spin when they bowl. This makes it difficult for the batsman to hit the ball.
Wanindu Hasaranga -: Wanindu Hasaranga is a talented Sri Lankan cricketer known for his leg-spin bowling and useful batting.
Shubman Gill -: Shubman Gill is a young and talented Indian cricketer who is known for his excellent batting skills.
Axar Patel -: Axar Patel is an Indian cricketer who is known for his all-round abilities, meaning he is good at both batting and bowling.
Pathum Nissanka -: Pathum Nissanka is a Sri Lankan cricketer known for his solid batting performances.
Dunith Wellalage -: Dunith Wellalage is a young Sri Lankan cricketer who has shown promise with both bat and ball.
