Colombo: The air was thick with tension as the opening ODI reached a spine-chilling climax on Friday. Charith Asalanka, with the weight of a nation's hopes on his shoulders, stood poised at the crease.
In a stunning ninth over, he delivered a masterclass in precision, trapping Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh lbw in successive deliveries, snatching a thrilling tie from the jaws of defeat.
The match had been a rollercoaster of emotions. India's chase of a modest 231 seemed like a walk in the park when Rohit Sharma came out blazing. His bat cracked through the Colombo air, sending a six and a four screaming into the stands in the very first over. The message was clear: India was going for the kill.
Shubman Gill quickly joined the party, and as boundaries rained down, it seemed Sri Lanka had no answer. Debutant Mohamed Shiraz felt the full brunt of India's onslaught as they raced to 40 in just four overs. But the drama was far from over.
Sensing a shift in the winds, Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka threw a curveball, bringing in spin early. It was Dunith Wellalage who turned the tide, striking a double blow by dismissing Gill for 16 and then trapping the unstoppable Rohit lbw for a blistering 58 off 47 balls. The momentum swung violently, and India's confident stride faltered.
A sudden hush fell over the Indian camp as Washington Sundar, promoted up the order, fell for a mere five runs. The stage was set for Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer to steady the ship. Kohli, ever the aggressor, lashed out with a flurry of boundaries, but the script had a cruel twist. Hasaranga, with ice in his veins, dismissed Kohli for 24. The very next over, Shreyas Iyer's stumps were shattered after he scored 23, leaving India wobbling.
With the target still nearly 100 runs away, and only KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Dube left, India's task seemed Herculean. Yet, Rahul and Axar forged a gritty partnership, rekindling hope. But the shadows lengthened, and the Sri Lankan bowlers tightened their grip. Hasaranga struck again, sending Rahul back for 31, and Axar's exit for 33 left India on the brink of disaster.
In the final stretch, with nerves frayed and hearts pounding, Dube launched a desperate counterattack. His crucial boundaries and a towering six brought India tantalizingly close to the target. The fans held its breath as the score leveled with Sri Lanka's total. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, Asalanka's golden arm delivered the final blows. Dube and Arshdeep, both trapped lbw in back-to-back deliveries, saw India's hopes dashed in a heart-stopping finish.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had fought tooth and nail to set a target of 230/8, with Dunith Wellalage’s unbeaten 67 providing a lifeline. Struggling at 101/5 by the 27th over, it was Wellalage's resilience and key partnerships with Pathum Nissanka (56) and the lower order that kept Sri Lanka in the fight.
The match, a pulsating saga of twists and turns, ended in a gripping tie, leaving both teams breathless and the spectators yearning for more. The cricketing gods had indeed scripted a classic.