In the opening ODI against the hosts, Sri Lanka set a target of 230 runs after batting first. Despite losing a couple of early wickets, they stabilized their innings and managed to post a competitive total. During the innings break, Sri Lankan player Dunith Wellalage shared his thoughts on the pitch conditions and the game. He noted that while the wicket offered some turn and was slow, they had managed to adapt and build a defendable total, highlighting the challenges faced by the batters.
Dunith Wellalage Talked at the Innings-Break:
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and faced early wickets. However, Pathum Nissanka and Janith Liyanage steadied the innings, contributing valuable runs. Dunith Wellalage played a standout innings, finishing unbeaten. During the innings break, Wellalage discussed the game, reflecting on their performance and the challenges they faced.
Dunith Wellalage said, “ Wicket – little bit turning. I knew it was turning, so I tried to play my normal game. The wicket was slow and I tried to sweep the ball and rotate the strike. They (India) have a good batting line-up but 231 is a good score. We have No. 1 bowler – Wanindu Hasaranga – and good fast bowlers. We can give a good fight. Not easy to bat on. With good bowling partnerships and dot balls, it’s not easy to bat here.”
Match Right Now:
In the ongoing ODI match, Sri Lanka set a challenging target of 231 runs by scoring 230/8 in their full 50 overs. India, in their chase, is currently at 133/5 after 25.3 overs. To secure victory, India needs 98 more runs at a required run rate of 4.0 runs per over. Axar Patel is at the crease with no runs from 6 balls, while KL Rahul has contributed a steady 36 runs off 50 deliveries. The current scoring rate for India stands at 5.22 runs per over, which indicates they need to accelerate their scoring to meet the target. With the middle order in place, India will need a strong partnership to reach the required total and clinch the win.
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