Wellalage has India in trouble with career best figures

by Rex Clementine

There’s been so much said about Dunith Wellalage being the future of Sri Lankan cricket ever since he was chosen as the Under-19 captain for the ICC Youth World Cup. He’s not disappointed his backers and put up a splendid show yesterday humbling India’s famous batting line-up finishing with career best figures of five for 40 including the big wickets of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. An IPL deal is around the corner for the boy from Moratuwa, who at the age of 20 has a good head on his shoulders.

India fresh from hammering arch-rivals Pakistan had got off to a good start having reached 80 for no loss in 11 overs and then the introduction of Wellalage in the 12th over put the breaks on the innings.

The Moratuwaite started off by cleaning up Shubman Gill and then in his next two overs claimed the two big wickets of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Kohli had posted four hundreds in a row at RPS and was looking forward for another grand show but he clipped one to mid-wicket where Dasun Shanaka accepted the chance gleefully.

Wellalage then cleaned up Rohit Sharma as India slumped to 90 for three after being 80 for no loss.

India staged a brief recovery through K.L. Rahul and Ishan Kishan as the pair added 63 runs for the fourth wicket before Wellalage struck again coming in for his second spell as he took a return catch to dismiss Rahul.

Soon, Sri Lanka removed the other set batsman as well, once again Wellalge amidst thick of things pulling off a sensational catch to see the back of Kishan to give Charith Asalanka his first wicket.

After one former Under-19 captain had done the damage dismissing the top order cheaply, another former Under-19 skipper Asalanka ran through the lower middle order and tail claiming four wickets, his career best figures.

It was the 14th successive occasion Sri Lanka had bowled a side out and the fact that this was achieved by the team’s second string bowling unit speaks volumes.

The track at RPS proved to be challenging with run making not so easy and Sri Lanak will have a tough ask ahead of them especially with India playing the additional spinner in Axar Patel.

With already a win under their belt against Pakistan, victory over India will put Sri Lanka in the finals.