Chetan Sakariya 1st wicket: The two debutants joined hands to break a formidable Sri Lankan partnership at the R Premdasa Stadium.
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During the third ODI of the ongoing India’s tour of Sri Lanka in Colombo, debutant India pacer Chetan Sakariya dismissed Sri Lanka batsman Bhanuka Rajapaksa to pick his first wicket in international cricket.
It all happened on the last delivery of the 23rd over when Rajapaksa flicked a Sakariya delivery on the leg-side. Wanting to clear the fielders at the boundary, left-handed Rajapaksa wasn’t successful as another debutant in Krishnappa Gowtham ran towards his right from fine-leg to grab a fantastic sliding catch.
It was only a delivery before that Sakariya was denied his first international wicket when another debutant Nitish Rana spilled a simple chance at deep square leg. Readers must note that it was Sakariya who had taken his first international catch to hand Gowtham his maiden international wicket of Minod Bhanuka (7) earlier in the evening.
Coming in to bat at No. 3 in the sixth over of a 227-run chase in a 47-over contest, Rajapaksa stitched a formidable 109-run partnership alongside opening batsman Avishka Fernando to put Sri Lanka in a comfortable position at the R Premdasa Stadium. Rajapaksa, who registered his maiden ODI half-century, departed after scoring 65 (56) with the help of 12 fours.
After India captain Shikhar Dhawan won the toss and chose to bat, the visitors were bundled out for 225 in 43.1 overs. Having scored 49 (49) with the help of eight fours, India opening batsman Prithvi Shaw was their highest run-scorer.
With bowling figures of 10-0-44-3, Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjaya was the pick of their bowlers. Playing his first match of the series like Dananjaya, spinner Praveen Jayawickrama also picked three wickets in his 10-over spell.
Chetan Sakariya 1st wicket in international cricket
Lucky before but not again! Gowtham takes a sliding catch to gift Sakariya his Maiden international wicket! ☝🏽
Tune into Sony Six (ENG), Sony Ten 1 (ENG), Sony Ten 3 (HIN), Sony Ten 4 (TAM, TEL) & SonyLIV now! 📺#SLvINDOnlyOnSonyTen #HungerToWin #ChetanSakariya pic.twitter.com/h06YcRaW3S
— Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) July 23, 2021
How Twitterati reacted:
WITH ONE, COMES ANOTHER! 🔥
Chetan Sakariya strikes again, this time it is Dhananjaya de Silva who has to depart ☝🏽Tune into Sony Six (ENG), Sony Ten 1 (ENG), Sony Ten 3 (HIN), Sony Ten 4 (TAM, TEL) & SonyLIV now! 📺#SLvINDOnlyOnSonyTen #HungerToWin #ChetanSakariya pic.twitter.com/KcNnEHDpPQ
— Sony Sports (@SonySportsIndia) July 23, 2021
International wicket No. 1 ⭐️
A special moment for Chetan Sakariya 🖤 pic.twitter.com/bWku7Li6C0
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 23, 2021
23rd July. 4th over. 1st international wicket.
A moment to remember for Cheetah Sakariya. 💗
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) July 23, 2021
Wakanda forever!
Two wickets in seven balls for this youngster 🙅
Follow #SLvIND LIVE 📝 https://t.co/7h1TUlZTzG pic.twitter.com/3hU7DaYshc
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 23, 2021
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