Colombo. Caught in the spin of Sri Lankan leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay (6 wickets for 33 runs), the Indian team lost the second ODI cricket match here on Sunday by 32 runs despite a half-century by captain Rohit Sharma (64 runs) and fell behind 0-1 in the three-match series. The first ODI between the two teams was a tie. The Sri Lankan team struggled due to the excellent performance of the Indian spinners led by Washington Sundar, but thanks to the lower-order batsmen, it managed to score 240 runs for nine wickets.
On this spinner-friendly pitch, this target became a mountain for India and the entire team was all out for 208 runs in 42.2 overs.
Vandersay took six wickets for 33 runs and captain Charith Asalanka took three wickets for 20 runs. When Rohit (44 balls, five fours, four sixes) was at the crease, the result seemed to be in India’s favour. He and Shubman Gill (35 runs, 44 balls) had shared a 97-run partnership for the first wicket in just 13.3 overs. During this time, Rohit hit shots all around the field on spinners Dunith Velalage and Akila Dhananjaya and fast bowler Asitha Fernando.
But while trying to reverse sweep a Vandersay ball, he was caught by Pathum Nissanka and the Indian batting unit was in trouble. Soon the score became 116 for two in 17.1 overs and then four balls later it became 116 for three. The Indian team lost six wickets for 50 runs in 10 overs and interestingly all these wickets were taken by Vandersay who was brought into the match in place of injured Wanindu Hasaranga.
After Rohit, Vandersay sent Gill to the pavilion who got caught by Kamindu Mendis at first slip. Shivam Dubey left as soon as he came.
After Virat Kohli got out cheaply on 14 runs, the responsibility was on Shreyas Iyer and Akshar Patel. But after Dube, Vandersay got Kohli and Shreyas out LBW as well. KL Rahul could play just two balls and was bowled by Vandersay.
Akshar Patel (44 runs, 44 balls) scored 14 runs with a six and two fours on Asalanka to reduce the pressure. He shared a 38-run partnership for the seventh wicket with Washington Sundar. Akshar also hit a six on Akila Dhananjaya. But Asalanka broke the hopes of the Indian team by catching Akshar on his own ball. At this time the score was 187 runs for seven wickets. After this, the rest was just a formality.
Earlier, Sundar took three wickets for 30 runs in 10 overs with one maiden. Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets for 33 runs in 10 overs. Both of them took full advantage of the help they were getting from the pitch. For Sri Lanka, who came to bat after winning the toss, Avishka Fernando contributed 40 runs, Kamindu Mendis 40 runs, Dunith Velalage 39 and Kusal Mendis 30 runs. The Sri Lankan team was struggling after scoring 136 runs for six wickets but reached this score with a 72-run partnership for the seventh wicket between Velalage and Kamindu Mendis, who had scored a half-century in the last match.
However, the first blow to Sri Lanka was given by fast bowler Mohammad Siraj who got the in-form Pathum Nissanka caught by KL Rahul behind the wicket with a superb inswinger. Then Avishka Fernando (62 balls, five fours) and Kusal Mendis (42 balls, three fours) shared 74 runs for the second wicket on the new ball. But when spinners started bowling from both sides, the run rate started slowing down. Then both of them became victims of Sundar.
Sadira Samarawickrama then got caught by Virat Kohli off Akshar Patel’s (1 wicket for 38 runs). Charith Asalanka faced the spinners bravely but the left-handed batsman got caught by Akshar Patel inside the circle off Sundar’s ball, taking Lanka’s score to 136 runs for six wickets.
Once again, young Velalage played with patience and hit a six each on Akshar and Siraj. He got a good partner in the form of Kamindu who was given a lifeline by Shivam Dubey on Kuldeep’s ball at the score of nine runs. Kuldeep dismissed Velalage but Kamindu played some excellent shots due to which the Sri Lankan team was successful in making a better score than the first ODI. The first ODI was a tie. The efforts of the Indian bowlers in the last five overs were not satisfactory due to which Sri Lanka added important 44 runs.