India lose two wickets with one needed to win as first ODI against Sri Lanka ends in a tie

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The first ODI between India and Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2 ended in a tie. India needed two off 15 balls with two wickets in hand when Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka picked the wickets of Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh on back-to-back deliveries.

This was only the 44th tied match in the history of ODI cricket. Shivam Dube scored crucial 25 runs off 24 balls, but unfortunately failed to take India over the line. It was only the second instance of an India versus Sri Lanka ODI ending in a draw.

In the dramatic 48th over, India needed just one run to win when the umpire turned down Sri Lanka's appeal for a LBW dismissal and Dube and Siraj ran a single, leading to the start of a celebration in the Indian dressing room.

However, Sri Lanka reviewed the decision just to give one last shot to save the hard-fought game. The UltraEdge showed no bat involved, and three reds on HawkEye lightened the mood of their camp once again. Arshdeep Singh walked in with an air of confidence, and looked to slog the first ball for a heroic finish only to get trapped in front of the stump and deny India a chance to take a 1-0 lead.

India settle for tie after early fireworks from Rohit Sharma

India had gotten off to a flying start once Rohit Sharma smashed a massive six over mid-wicket on the second ball of the chase. Rohit and Shubman Gil collected 56 runs in the powerplay.

The Indian captain brought up his fifty in just 33 balls, but the run-scoring slowed down after three quick wickets by Sri Lanka spinners. Gill (16 off 35) was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage. The left-arm spinner also dismissed Rohit after 10 deliveries.

Washington Sundar was promoted at four but his stay could only last four balls in which he scored five runs. The all-rounder got out plumb by Akila Dananjaya.

Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer then partnered for 43 runs off 45 balls before the former was dismissed by his former RCB teammate Wanindu Hasaranga. Kohli was also trapped in front of the stumps.

Shreyas Iyer soon followed after pacer Asitha Fernando cleaned his stumps with a stunning in-swinging delivery. But a 57-run partnership off 92 balls between KL Rahul (31) and Axar Patel (33) kept India afloat.

The momentum once again shifted after Rahul was dismissed by Hasaranga while trying to up the ante. When Axar Patel departed, India were reeling at 197/7 in 40.5 overs. Kuldeep Yadav (2) was Hasaranga's third wicket in the match.

Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka settled for 230/8 after opting to bat first. The hosts were 105/5 despite a fifty from Pathum Nissanka at the top, and starting down the barrel before a 41-run partnership of 47 balls between Janith Liyanage and Dunith Wellalage gave them the opportunity to fightback.

Liyanage scored 20 off 26 balls before walking back to the pavilion even when the umpire did not look convinced that the ball took an edge before going to Rohit Sharma at slip. The replays confirmed that there was no bat involved and just his bat hit the ground.

Wellalage then partnered for 32 runs with Wanindu Hasaranga (24), and later Wellalage's 46-run partnership for the ninth wicket with Akila Dananjaya (17) took the team past 200.

21-year-old Wellalage brought up his maiden ODI fifty and remained unbeaten on 67 off 65. His innings consisted of seven fours and two sixes.