IND vs SL: 1st ODI ends in a tie but fans enjoy Mohammed Siraj's 5 runs batting the most

What are the chances? The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka finished in a draw as well, following a tied game in the third and final T20I. However, there was no Super Over at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. After restricting the hosts to 230 runs for 8 wickets in 50 overs, the Men in Blue nearly chased down the target but had no wickets left. When Shivam Dube struck a boundary to level the scores, it was all smiles in the Indian camp, but they too were shocked when he was dismissed. 

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Later Arshdeep Singh also lost his wicket on the very next ball, leaving India all out for 230 runs in 47.5 overs. Amid all this, fans enjoyed captain Rohit Sharma's initial burst of runs, as he scored 58 off 47 balls, and Mohammed Siraj’s not-out innings of 5 runs off 11 balls. Fans on X (formerly known as Twitter) praised Siraj's confidence as he walked onto the field without a helmet. They even spoke about how the tail-enders have visible improvement in their batting.

Rohit Sharma got his team off to a flyer with a 33-ball fifty and India scored 71 without losing a wicket in the first Powerplay. But post that, the Sri Lankan spinners put a halt to the run-fest. Dunith Wellalage struck twice in two overs to remove both the Indian openers. Washington Sundar was promoted to No. 4 but he perished after hitting a boundary. The experienced duo of Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer steadied the ship to some extent, but Sri Lanka nipped them out in back-to-back overs.

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At 132/5, the game was poised nicely with KL Rahul and Axar Patel batting sensibly until the former tried to slog sweep Wanindu Hasaranga. That high-risk shot brought back Sri Lanka into the contest. Skipper Charith Asalanka accounted for the well-set Axar and when Kuldeep fell to Hasaranga, Sri Lanka was on top. However, the pendulum once again swung towards India with Dube smashing two sixes and a boundary. the visitors needed just one run to win but the Lankan captain provided the killer blow by trapping Dube and Arshdeep lbw off successive deliveries.

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Earlier, opting to bat, Sri Lanka recovered from 101/5 to post a fighting total of 230. This was courtesy of Dunith Wellalage's maiden half-century as he stitched three crucial partnerships. Wellalage went on to remain not out at 67 off 65 balls, smashing 7 fours and 2 sixes. Apart from him, Pathum Nissanka also scored 56 off 75 while other batters contributed with small cameos: Janith Liyanage (20 off 26), Wanindu Hasaranga (24 off 35), Akila Dananjaya (17 off 21), Charith Asalanka (14 off 21), and Kusal Mendis (14 off 31).

Teams:

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

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