Lakmal helps Sri Lanka dismiss India for 112 in first ODI

Medium-pacer Suranga Lakmal took a four-wicket haul as Sri Lanka dismissed India for a paltry 112 runs in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday.

The 30-year-old returned his best bowling figures (4/13) in ODI cricket to stun the Indian batting. The right-arm seamer's previous best of 4/30 was against England in December 2014.

For India, middle-order batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni (65) played a fighting innings to help the hosts register a three-digit total.

After being asked to bat first, India lost their top order -- Rohit Sharma (2), Shikhar Dhawan (0), Shreyas Iyer (9), Dinesh Karthik (0) and Manish Pandey (2) in quick succession.

Sri Lankan opening bowlers Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep (2/37) combined well.

Later, Dhoni played a cautious innings, hitting loose balls to the fence to claim his 67th ODI half-century.

The Ranchi stumper's valiant 87-ball innings was laced with 10 boundaries and two hits over the fence.

Kuldeep Yadav (19) from the other end played a perfect second fiddle, notching a 41-run crucial eighth wicket stand with Dhoni.

However, Yadav, who hit four boundaries, was sent back by Akila Dananjaya when his ball went past the outside edge. He was easily stumped by Niroshan Dickwella.

Later, Jasprit Bumrah (0) and Yuzvendra Chahal (0 not out) failed to get amongst runs.

Dhoni, who stood firm while wickets kept falling, was the last man to be dismissed off a length delivery by Thisara Perrera which was chipped in the air and caught easily by Danushka Gunathilaka at the cover boundary.

Brief Scores: India 112 (Mahendra Singh Dhoni 65, Kuldeep Yadav 19; Suranga Lakmal 4/13) against Sri Lanka.

--IANS

sam/mr