IND vs SL 2017, First ODI: Bitter defeat for Rohit Sharma on captaincy debut

Sri Lanka won the match inside 20 overs.

Lakmal picked up 4 for 13. (AFP)

Rohit Sharma had a forgetful start to his career as captain as Team India suffered a disheartening loss against Sri Lanka in Dharamsala. Sri Lanka, thus drew first blood in the three-match ODI series.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field on a Dharamsala wicket offering a lot of assistance to seamers. They had India tottering at 29 for 7 at one point with Suranga Lakmal picking up a career best of 4 for 13 and opening the floodgates of an Indian batting collapse.

MS Dhoni scored a crucial half century. (Getty)

MS Dhoni then digged in and scored a defiant 65 to take  India’s score to 112. He was well supported by Kuldeep Yadav (19) as the duo added a 41 run stand which was crucial in taking India’s score past the 100 run mark.

Angelo Mathews returned with good figures with the ball for Sri Lanka as he too picked up a wicket and only gave away 8 runs in his five overs.  Skipper Thisara Perera also chipped in with a wicket and the other pacer Nuwan Pradeep picking up two.

Sri Lanka then chased down the total inside 20 overs with Upul Tharanga scoring 49 at the top. Angelo Mathews (25*) and Niroshan Dickwell (26*) then ensured that Sri Lanka win the game comfortably. This was Sri Lanka’s fourth ODI win this year.

Brief Scores

Sri Lanka 114 for 3 (Tharanga 49) beat India 112 (Dhoni 65, Lakmal 4-13) by seven wickets

 
 

By Anshuman Roy - 10 Dec, 2017

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