SL’s Asalanka smashes century, but 1st ODI against ZIM abandoned due to rain
Charith Asalanka shot a 95-ball 101 and Dilshan Madushanka claimed two early wickets, but rain abandoned the first ODI against Zimbabwe
New Delhi: Sri Lanka vice-captain Charith Asalanka bowled a 95-ball 101 and Dilshan Madushanka claimed two early wickets but bad weather played spoilsport as the first One-Day International against Zimbabwe here was abandoned without any result on Saturday.
Zimbabwe were 12/2 in four overs, with Madushanka claiming two wickets for no run in two first overs before rain intervened. Takudzwanashe Kaitano (1) and Milton Shumba (2) were in the crease when the rain stopped at 7.09pm during the day-night meet.
The referees made a number of inspections before calling off the match around 9:20 p.m. Earlier, after Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to bat first, Sri Lanka lost Avishka Fernando for nil but the captain scored a 48-ball 46 and Sadeera Samarawickrama hammered 41 off 31 to take the score to 63 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Charith Asalanka scored a fine hundred, hitting five boundaries and four sixes, completing his century off 91 balls as Sri Lanka reached 273/9 in 50 overs. He and Dushmantha Chameera (18) put on 52 runs for the eighth wicket partnership, which helped them reach a decent score.
Asalanka was out with three balls to go in the 50th after attempting a second run after hitting an overshot delivery outside off stump.