India thrashes Sri Lanka by 169 runs in first ODI
CUTTACK, India: Riding centuries from Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan and an impressive bowling display by Ishant Sharma (4 for 34), India cruised to a comfortable 169-run win over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International at the Barabati Stadium here.
The Lankan batting, which had the experience of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Tillkaratne Dilshan, struggled throughout the innings and failed have a strong partnership.
Varun Aaron and Umesh Yadav (2/24) generated raw pace from the flat surface while the fielders looked spirited backing the bowlers.
Dilshan (18) was the first to go with Yadav giving the breakthrough in the ninth over, while Ishant claimed the big scalp of Sangakkara (13).
Jayawardene looked untroubled before he lost his patience driving straight to Kohli at short cover to give rookie left-arm spinner Axar Patel his second wicket.
Put into bat, Rahane struck 111 from 108 balls en route to his second ODI century while Dhawan returned to form with a 107-ball 113 as India posted an imposing 363 for five in 50 overs.
It was Dhawan's first hundred since his 119 against West Indies in Kanpur in November last year and sixth overall. The two Indian openers, capitalising on their respective dropped chances by veteran wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara, stitched out a 231-run stand for the opening wicket.
In their huge partnership, Rahane and Dhawan plundered 32 boundaries, including five sixes, between them.
Suresh Raina, appearing in his 200th ODI, also did his bit by striking a quick-fire 52 off 34 balls as it was one-way traffic for India.
India continued to dominate the proceedings as bowlers took the baton from the batsmen. They called the shots, bundling out the 'under-prepared' visitors for a mere 194 in 39.1 overs.
The pacers, led by Ishant Sharma, bowled with authority, never allowing the Sri Lankans to build partnerships or score freely.
Delhi lad Ishant made an impressive comeback to the One-day side after a gap of one year as he accounted for four batsmen and conceded just 34 runs in his 8 overs.
He had both Kumar Sangakkara (13) and Ashan Priyanjan (12) caught behind and later added two lowerorder batsmen to his kitty.
Seasoned campaigner Mahela Jaywardene put up some resistance with a fiery 43 off 36 balls for the Lankans but other batsmen failed to put up fight.
Skipper Angelo Mathews (23) tried to dig in but half of his side was back in pavilion by the half-way mark in their chase at a score of 126 and he too could not survive for long.
India received an injury scare as paceman Varun Aaron left the field grimacing in pain after bowling the first ball of the 13th over. Skipper Virat Kohli completed the over.
Aaron, who clocked 152kph in the first over, chatted with Kohli as physio was called before the pacer was taken off.
The two teams will now travel to Ahmedabad for the second match on Thursday.
The Lankan batters, which had the experience of Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Tillkaratne Dilshan, unlike the weak bowling link, hardly showed any appetite as nobody stood firm to anchor the big chase.
Aaron and Umnesh Yadav (2/24) generated raw pace from the flat surface while the fielders looked spirited backing the bowlers.