Shikhar Dhawan’s 86 Gives India Easy Win vs Sri Lanka in 1st ODI

Captain Shikhar Dhawan hit an unbeaten 86 and debutant Ishan Kishan stroked 59 to lead India to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international on July 18. (photo via IANS)

Associated Press

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — Captain Shikhar Dhawan hit an unbeaten 86 and debutant Ishan Kishan stroked 59 to lead India to a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international on July 18.

Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka opted to bat first after winning the toss and his team scored 262-9. India reached the target with more than 13 overs to spare, finishing on 263-3 off 36.4 overs.

Dhawan and Prithvi Shaw shared 58 for India’s first wicket before Shaw (43) was caught by Avishka Fernando off spinner Dhananjaya de Silva. Shaw’s aggressive innings took just 24 balls, including nine boundaries.

Dhawan and Kishan then added 85 runs for the second wicket. Left-arm wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan ended the dangerous partnership when Kishan was caught behind by Minod Bhanuka.

India’s third-wicket pair of Dhawan and Manish Pandey was also successful, adding 72 runs before Pandey was out for 26, caught by Shanaka off de Silva.

Dhawan’s 95-ball innings included one six and six boundaries for his 33rd ODI half-century in 143 matches.

De Silva returned 2-49.

Earlier, Chamika Karunaratne at No. 8 hit an unbeaten 43 off 35 balls to lift Sri Lanka to a respectable total after top and middle-order batters failed to convert their promising starts. Shanaka (39), Charith Asalanka (38), Fernando (33), Bhanuka (27), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (24) all began well but failed to press on.

India spinners Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav and seam bowler Deepak Chahar took two wickets each.

The second of three ODI matches is on July 20.