Sri Lanka v India, 2014-15
Wisden's review of the first ODI, Sri Lanka v India, 2014-15
15-Apr-2015
At Cuttack, November 2, 2014 (day/night). India won by 169 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka. One-day international debut: P. L. S. Gamage.
Mathews and Sangakkara had voiced concern about Sri Lanka's lack of preparation. It didn't take long for that to be borne out, as Sangakkara himself, diving towards the slips, put down chances offered by the openers - Dhawan on ten, Rahane on 38. After a sedate start, the pair burst free with a deluge of 96 in eight overs and, by the time Sri Lanka had made their first breakthrough, India already had 231 at quicker than a run a ball. Raina, promoted to No. 3, added yet more meat, passing 5,000 runs in his 200th one-day international. Aside from a pleasing 43 from Jayawardene, Sri Lanka offered little - and their total fell 37 short of India's opening partnership alone. Aaron broke down with a leg injury in his fifth over, but Ishant Sharma exploited Cuttack's bounce and seam to capture four for 34, the best one-day international figures of his eight-year career. It was India's second biggest win over Sri Lanka, after 183 runs at Johannesburg during the 2003 World Cup.
Man of the Match: A. M. Rahane.
Mathews and Sangakkara had voiced concern about Sri Lanka's lack of preparation. It didn't take long for that to be borne out, as Sangakkara himself, diving towards the slips, put down chances offered by the openers - Dhawan on ten, Rahane on 38. After a sedate start, the pair burst free with a deluge of 96 in eight overs and, by the time Sri Lanka had made their first breakthrough, India already had 231 at quicker than a run a ball. Raina, promoted to No. 3, added yet more meat, passing 5,000 runs in his 200th one-day international. Aside from a pleasing 43 from Jayawardene, Sri Lanka offered little - and their total fell 37 short of India's opening partnership alone. Aaron broke down with a leg injury in his fifth over, but Ishant Sharma exploited Cuttack's bounce and seam to capture four for 34, the best one-day international figures of his eight-year career. It was India's second biggest win over Sri Lanka, after 183 runs at Johannesburg during the 2003 World Cup.
Man of the Match: A. M. Rahane.