Dinesh Chandimal’s unbeaten century helped Sri Lanka reach 303 for 7 against Ireland in the first One-Day International (ODI) at the Village in Dublin on Thursday (June 16). His hundred included seven boundaries.

Earlier in the day, William Porterfield, Ireland captain, won the toss and elected to field. Kusal Perera, who made a comeback into the side, started out on a positive note as he put on a 42-run stand off 44 balls for the first wicket in company of Danushka Gunathilaka.

Debutant Barry McCarthy cut short the stand and snared the wickets of both the openers in the space of 11 deliveries. With Sri Lanka on the backfoot at 47 for 2, Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal resurrected the innings with a good mix of caution and aggression.

While Mendis fell soon after going past his half-century on ODI debut, Chandimal continued to construct Sri Lanka’s innings, with Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka for company. While the Sri Lankan skipper scored at a brisk pace, he fell one short of his half-century getting bowled by Max Sorensen. However, by then, he had put on a 98-run stand for the fourth wicket and left his side in a good position to press the accelerator in the death overs.

Shanaka took complete advantage of the situation and took the attack to the Irish bowlers. He reserved special treatment for McCarthy and smashed him for two boundaries and a six off the first three deliveries of the 46th over. His 19-ball 42-run blitz helped the visitors take command of the contest.

But just when it seemed that they would go past the 320-run mark, Boyd Rankin struck twice in the 47th over to send Shanaka and Seekkuge Prasanna back to the pavilion. Attempts at slog hits towards the end of the innings didn’t pay adequate returns as Sri Lanka finished their 50th over with 303 runs on the board.

 Cricbuzz