Sri Lanka all-rounder Dunith Wellalage delivered a poignant tribute to his late father after being named Player of the Match in Sri Lanka’s 19-run victory over England in the first One Day International. Wellalage produced an outstanding all-round display, taking 2 for 41 with the ball and scoring an unbeaten 25 off 12 balls, helping Sri Lanka defend a total of 271 for 6 and take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Wellalage dedicated the award to his father, who passed away during the Asia Cup while he was representing Sri Lanka. He stated that his father always wanted him to perform well for his country and supported his journey. Speaking at the post-match press conference, he noted that the past few months had been a difficult period personally and expressed gratitude to spin bowling coach Sachith Pathirana for his support during that time.

Regarding his batting improvement, Wellalage credited his extensive work with Dhammika Sudarshana and Thamara Abeyratne at the High Performance Centre at the R. Premadasa Stadium. His performance follows a recent omission from the squad for the Pakistan series, marking a successful return to the side. With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 approaching, Wellalage is expected to be a strong contender for the squad, as his left-arm spin and lower-order batting continue to prove highly effective in home conditions.