Debutant Chetan Sakariya finally got rewarded for all the hard work as he dismissed well-set Bhanuka Rajapaksa thanks to a brilliant catch by Krishnappa Gowtham in the fine-leg region. Sakariya’s wicket gave India the much-needed breakthrough after Sri Lanka were cruising through to the target.
Chasing 226 runs, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with Avishka Fernando once again leading the scoreboard for Sri Lanka. Although Krishnappa Gowtham got the other opener Minod Bhanuka out cheaply, the hosts managed to regroup and steer the run chase.
Fernando and Rajapaksa looked in complete control of things and 109 runs for the 2nd wicket to shift the momentum in Sri Lanka’s favour. Both of them scored their individual fifties as Shikhar Dhawan ran out of ideas to break partnership aided by missed catches. Finally, Chetan Sakriya, who is playing his first ODI managed to break the partnership.
It was a short ball, down leg as Rajapaksa helps this along. However, the southpaw couldn’t time it properly and it’s not an easy catch as the ball was flying away from the fielder. But Krishnappa Gowtham covered good ground before tumbling to take it cleanly.
Chetan Sakariya had his arms aloft in celebration as it was his maiden ODI wicket and he can’t control his emotions. India needed this wicket badly.
Watch the clip here:
Lucky before but not again! Gowtham takes a sliding catch to gift Sakariya his Maiden international wicket! ☝🏽
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Chetan Sakariya picks another wicket
The young fast bowler from Rajasthan backed it with another slower delivery to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva. It was a back of the hand delivery which bounced a bit extra to catch Dhananjaya’s gloves before looping in the sky before the bowler himself completed the catch.
India will require a couple of more wickets to come back in the match with Sri Lanka only needing 40 runs from 93 deliveries.