The 18-year-old Sodhi also provided some nostalgic moments for two members of the 1983 World Cup team with his first delivery that claimed his opposite number Upeka Fernando. The dismissal was reminiscent of Gordon Greenidge's dismissal by Balwinder Singh Sandhu in the '83 final against West Indies. Fernando was shell-shocked after he shouldered arms to an inswinger that clipped the bails. Incidentally Sandhu, who witnessed Sodhi's deed, remembered his own feat and burst out laughing in delight. Coach Krishnamachari Srikkanth, also a member of that World Cup team, too yelled out in delight as both transcended themselves into reflecting upon one of Indian cricket's most glorious day ever.

Sodhi was the vanguard of a disciplinedIndian attack which failed to get due complements from the fieldsmen. Opener Ian Daniels (59), who featured in the innings' most fruitful association worth 50 for the third wicket with Thilina Kandambi (68), was grassed thrice when on 0, 8 and 22. Twice Neeraj Patel was the culprit at second slip off an unlucky medium-pacer Swapnil Hazare, who matched his skipper in accuracy.

The 18-year-old Daniels flourished only when the spinners came into operation. Kandambi, on the other hand, adopted an aggressive stance and was quite successful in taking the fight into the opposite camp. The 17-year-old southpaw even struck two successive boundaries off Sodhi. The Indian captain broke the alliance by inducing Daniels to edge to wicket-keeper Pallav Vora. Thereafter, wickets kept falling at regular intervals leaving Malinga Bandara (7) and Ranil Dhammika (1) at the crease.

Indian coach Srikkanth appeared content at the end of the day, saying, ``the boys have done a good job.'' Reflecting on the dropped catches, theformer Indian opener opined: ``It is a learning process for them. Those who learn faster would go up quicker.''

The Sri Lankan coach Carlton Bernadus, while complimenting the Indians for ``bowling an impeccable line'', felt it would have been better had the batsmen built upon the good starts. ``Still they applied themselves well,'' he added.

Scoreboard

Sri Lanka Colts: Ian Daniels c Vora b Sodhi 59 (150b, 198m, 9x4), Upeka Fernando b Sodhi 15 (18b, 56m, 2x4), Malintha Gajanayake c Sodhi b Majumdar 3 (37b, 61m), Thilina Kandambi c Kaif b Rao 68 (142b, 170m, 11x4), Chamara Silva c Sodhi b Kaif 12 (38b, 51m, 2x4), Pubudu Senevirathne lbw b Rao 13 (43b, 52m, 2x4), Prasanna Jayawardena lbw b Majumdar 20 (48b, 50m, 3x4), Malinga Bandara batting 7 (54b, 64m, 1x4), Ranil Dhammika batting 1 (15b, 26m); Extras: (2b, 5lb, 6nb) 13. Total: (for seven wickets off 90 overs, 368m) 211

Fall of wickets: 1-32 (Fernando), 2-53 (Gajanayake), 3-103 (Daniels), 4-141 (Silva), 5-176 (Kandambi), 6-180 (Senevirathne),7-203 (Jayawardena)

Bowling: Salab Srivastava 12-4-32-0 (4nb), Swapnil Hazare 17-4-37-0 (1nb), Reetinder Sodhi 19-8-41-2, Rajesh Pawar 21-6-36-0 (1nb), Wrichik Majumdar 10-2-40-2, Mohammed Kaif 2-1-8-1, Venugopal Rao 9-4-10-2.