Sri Lanka edged past South Africa in the 🐭first꧅ ODI of the three-match series at R. Premadasa Stadium on Thursday.
Opening batsman Avishka Fernando played a scintilla🤪ting knock of 118 from just 🉐115 deliveries to set up a morale-boosting victory for the hosts.
The Lankans posted 300-9 on the board😼 in their allotted 50 overs after electing to bat first, with Fernando scoring his third ODI century.
The Proteas could manage only 286-6 despite their opener Aiden Markram scoring 96 off 90 balls and Rassie van der Dussen’s run-a-ball 59.
The second ODI will be played at the same venue on Saturdayꦛ (September 04).
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 300-9 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 118, Charith Asalanka 71; Keshav Maharaj 2/30) vs South Africa 286-6 in 50 overs (Aiden Markram 96, Rassie van der Du🅘ssen 59; Akila Dananjaya 2/65) by 14 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
Thrilled for Avishka Fernando, a very exciting player with a huge future in all formats for .
Quality hundred to start the series 💯— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket)
Hundred for Avishka Fernando – 100* from 106 balls including 7 fours and 2 sixes – Terrific knock against a very good South African bowling unit – one of the exciting talent from Sri Lanka.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Congratuღlations to Avishka Fernando on a truly outstanding 100. His 3rd in ODI cricket. Well played young man.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket)
Congratulations again well played✤ , charith a🔜nd Great team work in the field guys!! Let’s keep it going
— Upul Tharanga (@upultharanga44)
Third ODI century for Avishka Fernando. Upped🎶 the tempo after his half-century. Took only 31 balls from 50 to 100.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine)
That's a good win. A really good win for . Outstanding innings from Little bit of luck with the Bavuma injury, but getting 300 at RPS should always be enough
— Shanaka Amarasinghe (@ShanakaScore)
//twitter.com/Sakun_SD/status/1433422240620548100
Avishka Fernando won the Man Of the Match award for his brilliant 118 runs.
Congratulations 🙏— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet)
A well deserved well played win for to start the series and SA tour…
now to keep the momentum going..
— Ahamed Nishadh (@ahamednishadh)
SRI LANKA WIN 🇱🇰 Up the Lions 🦁
— Rob Lewis (@elitebandwagon)
Avishka Fernando now has 5 ODI Player of the Match Awards which is most of any Sri Lankan player since 2015. All of Avishka's awards are since July 2019.
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
