India defeated Sri Lanka in the second ODI by 3 wickets via D/L method at Palleke International Stadium, Kandy a few moments ago. Sri Lanka was invited to bat again by Virat Kohli and scored just 236 for 8 in 50 overs. The Indian openers gave the team a great start but Danjaya took 6 wickets but the partnership between Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar helped the visitors win the match.
Virat Kohli won the toss again and elected to field earlier today. Sri Lankan openers Dickwella and Gunathilkha played with positive intent putting on 41 runs for the first wicket as the aggressive opener Dickwella was dismissed for 31. At the end of first 10 overs, Sri Lanka scored 52 runs for 1 wicket. The Indian bowlers continued their brilliant form with the ball picking wickets at regular intervals reducing Sri Lanka to 121 for 5 in the 29th over.
Siriwardana and Kapugedra created an important partnership for the hosts. Both batsmen took singles, hitting the bad balls away for boundaries. The left handed Siriwardana scored his fifty in 49 balls. It was a good partnership for Sri Lanka as both of them put on 81 runs for the 6th wicket. The hosts were able to score only 236 for 8 in 50 overs.
Chasing the revised target of 231 in 47 overs reduced due to rain, Indian openers Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma gave the team a flying start putting the pressure on Sri Lankan bowlers. In the first 10 overs, both openers scored 68 runs and then continued to play with positive intent. Rohit completed his fifty in 43 balls. Dananjaya broke the first wicket partnership of 109 runs in 15.3 overs as he took the wicket of Rohit Sharma.
KL Rahul and Kedar Jadhav were sent ahead of Virat Kohli. From 109 for 1, India lost 6 wickets in space of 22 runs to leave the visitors at 131 for 7. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and MS Dhoni played slowly taking singles, hitting the bad balls away for boundaries. It was a great effort by both these batsmen as Kumar completed his maiden half century in ODI cricket while MS Dhoni remained not out on 45. India won the match by 3 wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
India 231 for 7 in 44.2 overs, 47 overs beat ( Bhuvneshwar Kumar 53*, Rohit Sharma 54, MS Dhoni 45*, Dananjaya 6/54) beat Sri Lanka 236 for 8 in 50 overs ( Siriwardana 58, Kapugedra 40, J Bumrah 4/43) by 3 wickets via D/L method
Captain Virat Kohli said: It was an exciting game of cricket. With two 100 partnerships in 230 run chase everyone should get a chance to bat. Dananjaya bowl right line and length deceiving the batsmen with googlies. He bowled right line and lengths.
Man of the match Dananjaya said: I am happy with my performance but could not help my team to win the match. My variations were working and continued with it. When India were 109 for 1, I tried to create pressure with my bowling.
India takes a 2-0 lead in the series. The third match of the series will be played at the same ground on 27th August.
