Dhawan’s innings contained 21 boundaries, including three sixes, and his hundred was the second fastest recorded by an Indian batsmen against Sri Lanka, after Virender Sehwag’s 66 ball knock in 2009.
Together with captain Virat Kohli, who scored 82 not out, India easily chased down the modest Sri Lankan total of 216, despite losing Rohit Sharma early to a run-out in the fifth over of the Indian innings.
Earlier, Sri Lanka, put into bat on a good pitch, started strongly and reached 55 without loss after 10 overs.
Even when opener Danushka Gunathilaka fell for 35, they looked well placed, and when wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella and Kusul Mendis took the score to 139/1, a big score looked on the cards.
However, the introduction of the Indian spinners saw the wheels come off the Sri Lankan innings big time. Dickwella was trapped lbw by Jadhav in the 25th over for 64, whilst Mendis, who had begun to play some big shots, fell three overs later for 36 bowled by Axar.
For the Sri Lankan fans, the sight of their batsmen traipsing back to the pavilion became a depressingly familiar sight, as they lost their last seven wickets for 66 runs, with none of their lower six batsmen making double figures, and only former captain Angelo Matthews offering token resistance, finishing on 36 not out.
Not only was the final Sri Lankan score a long way short of respectability, but they had committed the cardinal sin of not batting out their overs.
Satisfaction then for Kohli, who was commemorating almost to the day making his first ODI appearance for India on the same ground nine years ago.
Not such a happy day for Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga who was playing in his 200th ODI for his country, and who was hit for 52 in eight overs by Dhawan and Kohli, and managed just 8 runs with the bat.
India’s dominance was underscored by the fact that they rested key players like Ashwin, Jadeja, Shami and Yadav for this match, handing opportunities to the likes of Rahul and Pandya, who were both returning from injury, and the relatively untested Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal.
In truth, though, India did not have to try very hard to win this match. Sri Lanka, following the heavy test series defeat to India, were looking to the ODI series to restore some vestige of pride, but, after this defeat, will have to radically improve in almost all facets of the game if they are going to make Thursday’s second ODI in Pallekele any sort of a contest.