It wasn’t a defeat, but it must have felt like one for Rohit Sharma and his colleagues. When Shivam Dube blasted Charith Asalanka through the covers for four to level the scores in Friday’s first One-Day International, the visitors were on the cusp of a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Sri Lanka’s captain, a part-time off-spinner, trapped Dube and last man Arshdeep Singh in front off successive deliveries to deliver a great result for his side, the first tie in 149 ODIs at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Sri Lanka’s 230 for eight wasn’t miniscule and India lost wickets in clumps at various stages of their chase, never in control but always scrapping and staying in touch until Dube seemed to have clinched the deal. Only for Asalanka to strike the telling blows.