SL STUNS INDIA TO END VICTORY DROUGHT
First ODI at Dharmasala India bowled out for fifth lowest total
Sworked ri Lanka put up a stunning performance to beat India by seven wickets in the first ODI
off in Dharmasala,india yesterday. India,put into bat were bowled out for their fifth lowest total against Sri Lanka and overall their 14th lowest total.
In reply,sri Lanka chased down India’s total of 112 runs quite convincingly with opener Upul Tharanga (49) leading the way after the early dismissal of Danushka Gunathilaka.
Tharanga struck 10 boundaries during his 46-ball knock and also added 46 runs for the third wicket along with Angelo Mathews (25 not out).
The former Skipper added the finishing touches in style while putting on an unfinished 49 runs for the fourth wicket with Niroshan Dickwella (26 not out). Mathews and Dickwella struck five boundaries each as Sri Lanka took a vital one-nil lead in the three match series.
Earlier,fast bowler Suranga Lakmal claimed four wickets to help the Sri Lankans bowl out India for a mere 112 runs in 38.2 overs after they were put into bat. Lakmal spearheaded the Sri Lankan attack through some inspired bowling and wreaked havoc in the Indian batting to return career best ODI figures of four wickets for 13.
However,former Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit a determined knock of 65 to help India recover from a precarious 29 for seven wickets at one stage.
Angelo Mathews,who returned to bowl after recovering from a calf injury, drew first blood as he trapped opener Shikhar Dhawan (0) in the second over of the innings. Lakmal then removed Skipper Rohit Sharma (2) as the Indian top-order found it hard to counter the bounce and seam at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
New Captain Thisara Perera also persisted with Lakmal from one end as the Indian top and middle order fell like a pack of cards.
In fact,india were in real danger of being bowled out for an all-time low of Zimbabwe’s 35 runs in 2004 versus Sri Lanka. But Dhoni was associated in a crucial 41-run partnership with Kuldeep Yadav for the eighth wicket as the home side got past 54,which is their lowest total against Sri Lanka. Dhoni struck 10 fours and two sixes in his 87-ball stay while reaching his 67th ODI half-century before he was finally dismissed by Perera to wrap up the Indian innings.