Second ODI on a knife edge

Charith Asalanka top scored with 65 runs as Sri Lanka posted 275 in the second ODI against India at RPS yesterday.

By Rex Clementine

The second ODI between Sri Lanka and India was on a knife edge with the tourists needing 112 runs in 132 deliveries with four wickets in hand to wrap up the series 2-0 when this edition went to print yesterday. Set a target of 276 to win, India had reached 164 for six at the end of 28 overs at RPS.

Despite some sloppy fielding efforts and bowling displays, Sri Lanka put India under pressure thanks to some clever bowling by Wanindu Hasaranga.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka boldly introduced the leg-spin of Hasaranga in the third over of the game and Prithvi Shaw was castled for 13 after he had hammered three boundaries off the first over of the innings bowled by Kasun Rajitha.

Rajitha replaced Hasaranga after just one over and accounted for Ishan Kishan as the wicketkeeper batsman dragged one onto his stumps.

Hasaranga then trapped Shikhar Dhawan leg before wicket for 29 to reduce India to 65 for three.

A 50 run partnership followed between Manish Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav before Shanaka produced a run out with Pandey backing up too far. In the same over, Shanaka dismissed the dangerous Hardik Pandya, who was caught at short mid-wicket by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Despite impressing in patches, Sri Lanka were horrible on the field with Rajitha constantly misfielding. He wasn’t the only sloppy fielder with Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Lakshan Sandakan not living up to international standards.

Sandakan was awful with his line serving full tosses that Indian batsmen were quick to dispatch to the boundary. He did claim the big wicket of Suryakumar Yadav when he trapped the batsman leg before wicket but continued to bowl too many wides.

A maiden half-century by Charith Asalanka was the highlight of the Sri Lankan innings. Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka added 77 runs for the first wicket in 80 deliveries. Fernando threw away his wicket soon after completing the half-century.

Bhankua Rajapaksa was dismissed for a first ball duck and Sri Lanka’s middle order did not give the team a solid platform.

However, Asalanka teamed up with the lower middle order to help reach a decent total of 275. He added 50 runs for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne, who has been impressive with the bat this series.

Karunaratne, who had posted an unbeaten 43 in the first ODI, was 44 not out yesterday. Apart from a sensible knock, he showed lot of character as well on the field and while bowling. He could be someone who needs to be persevered with.