NEW DELHI: Sri Lanka bowling legend Lasith Malinga showered accolades on the emerging all-rounder Dunith Wellalage for his remarkable bowling performance that left India's star-studded top-order perplexed during the Asia Cup.
Wellalage notched up his first-ever five-wicket haul at the senior international level, delivering a splendid performance with figures of 5/40 against India on Tuesday.
Malinga, known for his own legendary bowling exploits, promptly took to social media to commend Wellalage's exceptional efforts.
1/10:Asia Cup: India beat Sri Lanka to reach final
AFP
2/10:India in final
<p>Kuldeep Yadav starred as India overcame a brilliant all-round effort from Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage to win a tense Asia Cup clash by 41 runs on Tuesday and book a place in the final. </p>AFP
3/10:Kuldeep Yadav
<p>Kuldeep took four wickets including the final two as India defended 213, bowling out Sri Lanka for 172 to silence a large home crowd at Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium. </p>AFP
4/10:2nd straight Super 4 win
<p>India recorded their second straight Super Four win in the 50-over tournament and ended Sri Lanka's 13-match winning streak in ODIs. </p>AFP
5/10:Sri Lanka all out
<p>Wellalage, who claimed his maiden ODI five-wicket haul, remained unbeaten on 42 when he ran out of partners as Kuldeep wrapped up the SL tail in 41.3 overs. </p>AP
6/10:Rohit Sharma
<p>Rohit Sharma entered an elite list of players with over 10,000 ODI runs and hit his second successive fifty for a brisk start but Wellalage hit back. </p>Getty Images
7/10:Dunith Wellalage
<p>Dunith Wellalage returned figures of 5-40 including the wickets of Rohit and Virat Kohli with strong support from Charith Asalanka, who claimed 4/18. </p>AP
8/10:Spin sensation
<p>Wellalage struck with his first ball of the match when he bowled Shubman Gill for 19 and there was no looking back for the young spinner. </p>AFP
9/10:3 wickets in 3 overs
<p>Wellalage made the home fans erupt with the wicket of Kohli (3) and Rohit was also bowled by Wellalage who snared his third scalp in three overs. </p>AFP
10/10:Vital stand
<p>Ishan Kishan, who made 33, and previous-match centurion KL Rahul attempted to rebuild the innings with a stand of 63. </p>AFPThe Sri Lankan cricket great expressed his belief in the young spinner's promising future in the sport.
"It is fair to say that SL played with 12 players today. That is how good Dunith was," Malinga wrote as quoted by ICC.
"He has got a brilliant head on his young shoulders to go with his all-round skill set."
"I believe he is on his way to becoming the most important player for SL in ODIs for the next decade," he concluded.
Wellalage, who has played 13 ODIs for his country so far, looks set to play a major role in Sri Lanka's ICC Men's Cricket World Cup campaign that commences in India next month.
