Twitter Reactions: Sri Lanka start the ODI series on a winning note

While one team entered the series with the objective to regain the No.1 ranking the other wanted to end their 12-match losing streak. Given the way Sri Lanka had faired the last time these two teams met in the ODI series back home and their follow-up 5-0 series defeat at the hands of Pakistan in the UAE, not many would’ve put their bets on the visitors.

Among the two skippers making their ODI captaincy debut, it was Thisara Perera who got to make the call after the flip of the coin. With cool surroundings and a wicket that had a lot of moisture Perera didn’t think twice before asking India to bat first. The plan worked exceptionally as Suranga Lakmal and his new-ball partner Angelo Mathews made early inroads.

The Indian batsmen had no clue against the moving ball and the scoreboard soon read 29/7. It was the old warhorse MS Dhoni who rescued the team yet again and bailed them out of trouble batting with the tail. He scored a magnificent half century and not only ensured they didn’t own the lowest scores record but also took them over the 100-run mark.

His knock of 65 was graced with ten boundaries and a couple of maximums. He was the last man to get out with the team score on 112. It wasn’t a massive total and the moisture in the wicket had already dried out.

Team India needed early wickets and in a heap, but that didn’t happen as Upul Tharanga held one end despite losing Danushka Gunathilaka and Lahiru Thirimanne cheaply. Though he got out for 49 from 46 balls, Angelo Mathews (25) and Niroshan Dickwella (26) didn’t let pressure creep up and took the team over the line in authoritative fashion inside 21 overs and with 7 wickets in hand.

With this Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the series, dismissed the Indian team’s hopes of regaining the No.1 ranking from South Africa and ended their dismal losing streak in ODIs.

Here is how Twitterati reacted during the course of the game: