Young Wellalage Grabbed Fifer Against India: The Young Spinner Dunith Wellalage of Sri Lanka made waves on Tuesday after catching a fifer during the high-stakes India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.
The 20-year-old Sri Lankan bowler, who just recently made his international debut, put on a spectacular show of left-arm orthodox spin and took the Indian top order by storm. He played under 19 last year and he took Virat’s wicket which according to him was his dream wicket.
Winning the toss, India chose to bat. Rohit and Gill gave India a flying start and built an 80-run opening stand where Wellalage clean bowled Shubman Gill in the very first ball of his spell. He took his dream wicket of Virat Kohli in the very next over and removed Rohit in the first ball of his third over. Three wickets in the first 13 balls; this was something like a dream spell for any spinner who is that young and bowling against in-form Indian batters.
Wellalage wasn’t done yet. The threatening KL Rahul was caught out by him as he returned to claim his fourth wicket. Rahul attempted to hit a length delivery that was on the stump line yet he offered a soft return catch. After scoring 39 runs, Rahul was left shaking his head as he returned to the dressing room.
With the removal of Hardik Pandya, Wellalage achieved a historic record by taking his maiden five wickets. Pandya attempted to defend against a fullish delivery on off-stump but edged the ball. Kusal Mendis calmly caught the ball, displaying strong composure. The umpire initially rejected the appeal, but a Sri Lankan review overruled it, forcing Pandya back to the pavilion for only 5 runs.
He also contributed in the dismissal of Kishan, stretching out full to pick up a brilliant catch in the 35th over by Charith Asalanka’s bowling.
Wellalage Grabbed Fifer Against India
Wellalage originally gained fame when leading Sri Lanka in the 2022 U19 World Cup. Throughout the competition, he contributed with both the bat and the ball, ending with the most wickets. The young and vibrant spinner took two wickets in a two-wicket defeat against Australia on his ODI debut in June 2022 at Pallekele.
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