Guwahati: India won the first ODI against Sri Lanka by 67 runs. Virat Kohli scored a stunning century.
Batting first in this match at Parsapara Stadium in Guwahati yesterday, the Indian team scored 373 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. The opening pair of captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill played brilliantly and laid a good foundation. Shubman Gill, who scored his 5th half-century, scored 70 runs off 60 balls with 11 boundaries and was lbw off Dasan Shanaka.
Shubman Gill added 143 runs in 19.4 overs along with Rohit Sharma for the first wicket. Rohit Sharma scored 83 runs in 67 balls, 3 sixes and 9 fours after his 47th half-century. Rohit Sharma hit 2 sixes off Rajita and Dunith Vellalake hit a six. Meanwhile, Shubman Gill hit a hat-trick of fours in the 19th over bowled by Dunith Vellalake.
Using the foundation provided by the opening pair, Virat Kohli scored a run-hunt in 80 balls. It was his 45th century in ODI cricket. Virat Kohli, who played tremendously, scored 113 runs in 87 balls with 12 fours and one six. Shreyas Iyer 28, KL Rahul 39, Hardik Pandya 14, Axar Patel 9 runs. Mohammad Shami scored 4 and Mohammad Siraj remained unbeaten with 7 runs. Kasan Rajitha took 3 wickets on behalf of the Sri Lankan team.
Batting with a target of 374 runs, the Sri Lankan team managed to score only 306 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. Opener Padumnisanga scored 72 and Dhananjaya de Silva added 47 runs. Avishka Fernando 5, Kusal Mendis 0, Sharid Asalanga 23, Vanindu Hazaranga 16, Dunit Vellalake 0, Shamika Karunaratne 14 runs.
Captain Dasan Shanaka was unbeaten on 108 off 88 balls with 3 sixes and 12 fours. Despite Shanaka’s aggressive play in the final stages, it did not yield victory. Kasan Rajitha, who stood in the field to support him, added 9 runs in 19 balls. Shanaka and Rajita added 100 runs for the 9th wicket. On behalf of the Indian team, Umran Malik took 3 wickets and Mohammad Siraj 2 wickets.
India won by 67 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series. The 2nd match will be played tomorrow at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Goalie who escaped twice: Virat Kohli escaped losing the game twice off Rajita’s delivery. Gusal Mendis missed a catch when Virat Kohli was on 52 runs. And Shanaka took the catch when he was on 81 runs. Virat Kohli took full advantage of these opportunities.
Most 300+ runs: India scored 373 runs against Sri Lanka in the Guwahati match. This is the 22nd time that India have chased down 300-plus runs against Sri Lanka in ODIs.
27th time…: Rohit Sharma added 143 runs for the first wicket with Shubman Gill in the first ODI against Sri Lanka. This is the 27th time that Rohit Sharma has scored more than 100 runs for the opening wicket in ODIs. 18 times with Shikhar Dhawan, 5 times with KL Rahul, 3 times with Ajinkya Rahane and first time with Shubman Gill as first wicket partnership of 100-plus runs.
