Sri Lanka v India 2nd ODI: Who Said What

Sri Lanka got back in the game, made things competitive but in the end, once again spilled it. Even if you are Indian supporters you got to feel for Akila Dananjaya. He bowled the best spell of his career, after a glorious start by the Indian openers, Dananjaya got into the attack and picked wickets in a cluster. He got them a six-wicket haul in his first spell and had Team India down on their knees but the rest of the Sri Lankan team couldn’t finish the game for him.

Virat Kohli won the toss and decided to invite the Lankans to bat first. They once again had a good start, the duo of Niroshan Dickwell and Danushka Gunathilaka added 41 runs for the first wicket before Jasprit Bumrah broke through with the wicket of Dickwella. Thereafter there was little substance in the innings as Gunathilaka, Upul Tharanga and Kusal Mendis were out in quick succession.

A half century from Milinda Siriwardana and 40 from Chamara Kapugedera helped them post 236/8 in 50 overs. Among the Indian bowlers Bumrah had a great outing as he picked up a 4-wicket haul, leggie Yuzvendra Chahal picked a couple and improved from the previous game.

The second part of the game was bizarre. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan blazed a hundred-run partnership. While Rohit scored his second half century in Sri Lanka with a 54, his partner missed out on one by a run. Angelo Mathews took a brilliant catch to dismiss Dhawan and that triggered a collapse.

The Indian team at 109/1 was 7 down for 131 and all the six wickets were picked by Akila Dananjaya who by name is an off-spinner who bowls the odd leg-break but bagged four of his scalps with a googly. MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar was probably the last pair that kept the Indian hopes alive. The duo kept held nerve, played off that period with Bhuvi showing immense application, the pressure gradually moved onto the Lankans.

Neither of the batsmen gave away anything and the runs were coming with no pressure from the scoreboard. The fast bowler scored a half century and remained unbeaten on 53 at the end while Dhoni was 45 not out.

Despite the fact that his team ended on the losing side the spinner who got married yesterday was awarded the Man of the Match award for his sensational bowling.

Akila Dananjaya said:

I use my variations and kept using it in the first eight overs. I had my wedding yesterday and came back to the hotel in Kandy at 10 pm.

Upul Tharanga said:

“Disappointed. We came very close and couldn’t finish it. Milind and Kapu gave us a good finish. Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar played well. Dananjaya bowled very well. We had a few overs to go, that’s why we kept him for the last few overs. Fielding and bowling has improved. Dananjaya and Milinda were brilliant.”

Virat Kohli said:

 “It was quite an exciting game of cricket. It gave us a tough test out there but was good to come through. Was good to see two 100-run stands in a 230 run chase and then a collapse. Strange game but good that we came through. You want to give the other guys in the team a go too (on the batting reshuffle).

We got out to good deliveries. Akila bowled an outstanding spell. Even batting at No.3, I would have still gotten out to that delivery. It’s difficult when you haven’t seen the guy but now we will be more careful. Credit to him; he capitalized on the hesitation because we were not reading him too well. He attacked the stumps.”