Rahane was named Man of the Match for his career-best knock of 111
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
India’s opening pair of Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan both scored centuries to help their side demolish Sri Lanka by 169 runs in the first ODI in Cuttack.
Dhawan and Rahane were well supported by all-rounder Suresh Raina, who made 52, and pace bowler Ishant Sharma, who took four wickets.
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews would have been regretting his decision to bowl first after Dhawan and Rahane got off to a record-breaking start as they amassed a 221-run partnership, which is the highest first-wicket stand at Cuttack.
During their partnership, Dhawan brought up his sixth ODI century and Rahane his second, before Dhawan was clean bowled by Ashan Priyanjan for 113, which came off 107 balls and included 14 boundaries and three sixes.
Dhawan celebrates after scoring his sixth ODI century
Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo
Rahane went on to score a career-best 111, which came off 108 deliveries and included 13 boundaries and two sixes, before he was caught by Mahela Jayawardene at mid-off off the bowling of Suraj Randiv.
India captain Virat Kohli and Raina, who was playing in his 200th ODI, stabilised the innings with a 52-run partnership, during which Raina registered his half-century and surpassed 5,000 ODI runs, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Randiv.
Raina’s excellent knock of 52 came off 34 balls and included four boundaries and three sixes.
Raina hammered four boundaries and three sixes during his innings of 52
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Kohli ended up making 22 runs before he was caught by Thisara Perera at backward square leg off the bowling of Randiv.
Ambati Rayudu scored a quickfire 27 before he was caught by Perera at cover off the bowling of debutant Lahiru Gamage.
Thanks to Dhawan and Rahane, India finished on an imposing 363/5 off their 50 overs.
Randiv was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Gamage and Priyanjan chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing a mammoth total of 364 to win, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start as opening batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan was caught behind off the bowling of Umesh Yadav for 18 runs.
Kumar Sangakkara only made 13 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Sharma.
Upul Tharanga managed to make 28 runs before he was caught by Dhawan at long-on off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin.
Seekkuge Prasanna failed to have an impact with the bat as he was caught by Rahane at backward point off the bowling of Akshar Patel for five runs.
Jayawardene was Sri Lanka’s top-scorer with 43 runs, which came off 36 balls and included six boundaries and a six, before he was caught by Kohli at short cover off the bowling of Patel.
Mathews mustered 23 runs before he was caught by Patel at midwicket off the bowling of Raina.
Priyanjan accumulated 12 runs before he was caught behind off the bowling of Sharma.
Randiv fared no better as he was clean bowled by Sharma for five runs.
Sharma struck again just four balls later when Dhammika Prasad was caught behind for a duck.
Sri Lanka were bowled out for 194 when Perera was caught by Sharma at long-on off the bowling of Yadav for 29.
Sharma was the most successful bowler with four wickets, while Yadav and Patel snapped up two wickets apiece and Ashwin and Raina claimed one wicket each.
Sharma finished with a career-best 4-34 off his eight overs
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Mathews was disappointed with his side’s performance, and said: “Playing in India is always tough. We had to prepare as much as we could in the last seven days. It’s a learning curve for the bowlers. It’s an opportunity for all those who played today because there’s not much experience in the camp. We let the batsmen off the hook after 10 overs. Rahane and Dhawan batted beautifully. Those two catches were crucial and Gamage looks like an exciting prospect.”
Kohli was ecstatic to have taken a 1-0 lead, and said: “Taking the responsibility of leading a young side, I like it and it excites me, especially with the World Cup coming up. Taking the Powerplay early worked well today. I bounced the idea off Duncan when I was sitting next to him because both batsmen were well set. Aaron struggled after the fourth over and I don’t know the extent of his injury. I didn’t want to take a chance and asked him to rest. Great to see some pace unleashed by India and it will be helpful in Australia. Great to see them hitting the line and lengths and bowling according to the field placements.”
Rahane was named Man of the Match, and said: “Both my hundreds are equally important. The first 10 overs were slightly challenging but later on it got really easy for us. Shikhar and I really enjoyed batting in the middle. The team asked me to open so I was happy to open. I’m just thinking of this series right now. We’ve started really well and will take one game at a time.”