CUTTACK: Sri Lankans might have had a six-week fitness camp to boost their World Cup chances. But they have probably forgotten cricket. The 169-run annihilation suffered in Sunday’s first One-Day International at Barabati Stadium said it all.
Chasing 364, the visitors surrendered at 194. In a lop-sided match, India, under stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, asserted their supremacy in all departments. Inserted on a sporting wicket, they set records galore on their way to 363 for five.
The bowlers responded splendidly by dismissing the opposition inside 40 overs. Ishant Sharma ravaged the batting, scalping four wickets, including two in one over. He was well supported by Umesh Yadav and left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who played in place of Ravindra Jadeja. Most of the batsmen looked out of touch. Mahela Jayawardene (43 off 46, 6x4, 1x6) was the lone exception, who was on course for a big knock before playing an injudicious shot. In the absence of Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha did a superb job behind the stumps, taking four catches.
The first half enthralled 45,000 fans as Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan propelled India to a record total at Barabati, the previous highest being 301 for three by them against Zimbabwe in 1997-98. The openers put together 231 runs in 35 overs, the highest for the that wicket at Barabati, overtaking the 188 between Krish Srikkanth and Ravi Shastri against England in 1984-85.
After negotiating the first 10 overs with caution, the duo sent the bowlers on a leather hunt, playing all sorts of shots. Both reached fifty in the 21st over as Dhawan hit Suraj Randiv for two fours and a six. Rahane was first to reach hundred, in the 32nd over. His second in ODIs came off 99 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes. Dhawan reached his sixth in the 33rd over, from 96 balls, and hit 12 fours and three sixes.
Dhawan got out off the last ball of the 35th over for 113 (107b, 14x4, 3x6). Rahane followed, mistiming a low full toss. His 111 off 108 balls was studded with 13 fours and two sixes.
Suresh Raina, who came in at No 3, continued the feast, hitting 52 off 34 with four fours and three sixes. He hit Thisara Perera for hit two fours and six in the 41st over, which proved to be most productive, fetching 20 runs.
Raina crossed 5,000 runs in his 200th ODI. He hit the next ball for six to register his 32nd ODI fifty but was trapped lbw immediately after that. Though India lost a few wickets in the death overs, runs continued to flow. Axar Patel finished it off with two sixes in the last over.
The visitors floored as many three catches. The chief culprit was wicketkeeper Kumara Sangakkara. He dropped Dhawan off Dhamika Prasad when the batsman was on 10. Rahane got a life on 42 when the veteran dropped a difficult catch off Thisara Perera.