Sri Lanka Clinches Victory in the 2nd ODI Against India, Breaking India's Winning Streak
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| The defeat ends India's sequence of 11 consecutive bilateral series (2+ matches) wins in ODIs against Sri Lanka. / Getty Images |
In a thrilling turn of events, Sri Lanka has defeated India by 32 runs in the 2nd ODI of the ongoing series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. This victory marks a significant milestone for Sri Lanka, as it ends India's sequence of 11 consecutive bilateral series wins in ODIs against them, dating back to December 1997.
Opting to bat, Sri Lanka was in a precarious situation at 136/6. However, Dunith Wellalage and the lower-order bailed them out of trouble, posting a challenging total of 240.
The Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, started strongly, racing away to 76/0. However, the tide turned when Rohit attempted a reverse-sweep against Jeffrey Vandersay and was dismissed, thanks to a superb catch from Pathum Nissanka.
Embed from Getty ImagesVandersay spun a web around the Indian batters, accounting for the first six wickets. His spell of 6/33 is the best figure by a spinner against India in ODIs, surpassing Muttiah Muralitharan's 7/30 against India in Sharjah 2000.
The Sri Lankan captain, Charith Asalanka, further tightened the screws by removing both Indian all-rounders, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar, in quick succession. In response, India was bowled out for 208, with Kuldeep Yadav remaining unbeaten on 7 off 26 balls. The defeat was a hard-fought one, with many records set and broken. The series is now poised for an exciting finish, with the decider set to be played in a few days.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis victory is a testament to Sri Lanka's resilience and determination, demonstrating that they are a force to be reckoned with in international cricket. The Indian team, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back and claim the series in the final ODI.
2nd ODI: Sri Lanka vs India
Sri Lanka: 240/9 (50 overs) & IND: 208 (42.2 overs)
Sri Lanka won by 32 runs
Player of the Match: Jeffrey Vandersay (6 wickets)
India's innings: Rohit Sharma: 65 (86), Jeffrey Vandersay (Sri Lanka): 10-0-33-6
