NEWS
Follow UsTop-order batsmen Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando both slammed centuries to lead Sri Lanka to an imposing 324-5 in the rain-interrupted first one-day international against New Zealand on Wednesday. The revised target of 221 in 27 overs total proved 45 runs too much for the Kiwis.
Electing to bat first, Mendis was the star of the innings, making a career-best 143 off just 128 balls. His explosive knock featured 17 fours and two sixes, propelling Sri Lanka to a commanding position. Together with Fernando (100), Kusal forged a 206-run stand for the highest partnership for the second wicket in ODIs between these two teams.
Their effort eclipsed a 21-year-old record held by Sanath Jayasuriya and Hashan Tillakaratne, who had added 170 against the Black Caps in the 2003 World Cup in Bloemfontein. The stand was also the highest partnership for any wicket at Dambulla in ODIs.
For Avishka, it was his first century since 2021, breaking a dry spell after a string of low scores. He scored a 115-ball 100 with nine fours and two sixes before being caught while attempting a sweep shot off Ish Sodhi. It was his fourth ODI hundred.
Charith Asalanka's cameo of 40 (28) capped off a fine day with the bat for the Islanders. With the ball, Sri Lankan bowlers didn’t start well enough, as Will Young (48 off 46) and Tim Robinson (35 off 36) put up 88 runs for the first wicket in just 13.1 overs.
However, the Kiwis lost five wickets in the next four overs for just 22 runs, with Lankan spinners Maheesh Theekshana (2/32), Charith Asalanka (2/15) and Jeffrey Vandersay (1/40) wreaking havoc. Michael Bracewell led a futile attempt at the chase with a 34 off 32 balls, and eventually the visitors fell 45 run short of the adjusted target.
The remaining two ODIs of the series will be played in Pallekele on Sunday, November 17 and Tuesday, November 19.
With inputs from AFP
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