Sri Lanka’s batsmen put it an underwhelming show again as they limped to 236/8 in their 50 overs after being put in to bat by India in the second One-Day International in Pallekele on Thursday.
Despite a breezy start from Niroshan Dickwella (31), the hosts could not get going and slumped to 121/5 at one stage before a spunky partnership from Milinda Siriwardana (58) and Chamara Kapugedera (40) took them beyond 200. A shower at the innings break took some time away but play resumed with India needing 231 in 47 overs to go 2-0 up in the series.
Live:
11.38 pm: And that’s it. It’s a wide which finishes it off. What a knock by Bhuvi who gets a fifty and gets the highest score by a No 9 batsman against Sri Lanka. India win by three wickets and go up 2-0.
11.17 pm: This could be it. Bhuvi is reading Dananjaya well and hammers him for two fours. It’s getting easier now. Runs required in the 20s. This is going towards India. India 205/7, 25 from 36.
11.10 pm: Bhuvi and Dhoni are now closing the gap. Bhuvi hits a six off Siriwardana. Required run rate is just inching to five so manageable. You’d suggest India are ahead but Dananjaya’s two overs are left. India 192/7.
10.55 pm: These two are quietly taking the game away. It’s slow but steady progress and the partnership is now 50. Dhoni played on but the bails stayed on. Everything happening! But SL need a wicket. Otherwise, Dananjaya’s heroics will have all been in vain. 171/7 in 35.
10.20 pm: A calm Dhoni and a stolid Bhuvneshwar Kumar are resisting and taking India past 150. Sri Lanka, by no means, have won it just yet, especially while Dhoni is out there. India 152/7.
Honeymoons come sweet for Akila!
10.00 pm HE HAS SIX. This is reminiscent of how Muralitharan used to bowl teams out. Axar Patel is caught plumb in front. India 131/7.
9.44 pm: Hardik Pandya comes down to the ground, misses it by miles and is out stumped. India are 119/6, Dananjaya has 5/25 and this is a full-blown implosion!
9.35 pm: KL Rahul is the next one to be done up. Dream spell by Akila Dananjaya. India are 119/5.
9.34 pm: WICKET AND IT IS KOHLI! What is happening? Kohli is clean-bowled, middle-stump out by Dananjaya. India are 118/4!
9.30 pm: WICKET and WICKET. Dhawan is gone! Sweeps to part-timer Siriwardana and Angelo Mathews takes an exceptional catch. Then Kedar Jadhav came in to continue Kohli’s experiment and was bowled after two balls by Dananjaya! India 114/3.
9.22 pm: Stop the press, Sri Lanka’s bowlers have a wicket! Dhananjaya traps him front as he sweeps and misses. The review also doesn’t save him as he goes for 54. India 109/1.
KL Rahul is here at No 3. Experimentation by Kohli.
9.20 pm: Fifty for Rohit Sharma, the 100 up for India in just 15 overs. Sri Lanka haven’t even looked like taking a wicket. 102/0 in 15 overs.
8.43 pm: The 50 is up for India within eight overs. This is going to be another walk in the park, isn’t it? India 52/0 in 8.
But who’s going to say “rest” in front of Kohli, Aakash?
8.10 pm: The action restarts. India tick off 10 in the first two overs without hardly looking to take risks.
An opinion on the World XI that’ll be touring Pakistan:
7.30 pm: Right, there is news. Match to restart at 8.00 pm (IST), revised Indian target is 231 in 47 overs. More of the permutations:
7.25 pm: Covers coming off. And we should see a restart very soon. If overs are lost, here’s how Duckworth-Lewis will work.
6.50 pm: Still raining unfortunately. Covers on and the drizzle isn’t stopping.
And well...
6.22 pm: There’s a bit of rain around and the covers are on. We’ll keep you updated, but here are some reactions:
Also pretty good news....international cricket is returning to Pakistan!
6.10 pm: Some brilliant death bowling from Jasprit Bumrah (who finished with 4/43 in his 10) and Bhuvi in the 50th over has kept SL on the leash at 236/8 in their 50 overs. Very under-par, but a decent recovery from 121/5.
5.40 pm: Gone. After a fighting 58, Siriwardana gets stifled by Bumrah’s pressure and holes out. A good knock, ultimately. Sri Lanka 212/6, 5 overs left.
5.30 pm: The 200 comes up for Sri Lanka. Quick runs, well deserved. Siriwardana gets a fifty as well. Finally some fight.
Someone tell Jadhav he can use the entire bowling crease?
5.18 pm: Under the circumstances, this a neat 50-run stand brought up by Kapugedera and Siriwardana. Comes up in 66 balls. Siriwardana has been playing well, currently 42 off 40. Kapugedera slower 22 off 43. Ten overs left, Sri Lanka 179/5.
5.00 pm: 16 overs left in the Sri Lankan innings. It’s been crawling along with losses at every juncture. Where will they finally stumble on to? 149/5.
The reactions (the few there are) have been...well...uhh...not complimentary:
4.35 pm: What is it with Sri Lanka and their fascination with the sweep? A laboured 41-ball 20 later, Angelo Mathews goes for an ugly sweep, gets caught in front and hands Axar Patel his first wicket. SL 123/5.
Yeah....I think us too? :P
4.15 pm: Every match goes by and every match, Sri Lanka become worse. The “talented” Kusal Mendis goes for a sweep, misses, is struck plumb in front and reviews for no reason. Obviously he is out, Chahal gets a second. Sri Lanka 101/4.
3.45 pm: Another one. Now Pandya strikes. Nothing shot from the captain Tharanga. Pokes outside off, edges to slip. Really bad. SL 81/3 off 16.
3.38 pm: Wicket. The wrong ‘un from Chahal gets Gunathilaka. Steps out, deceived, also deceives Dhoni on his first attempt but he recovers to take the bails off. Two down Sri Lanka. SL 80/2.
3.25 pm: The first powerplay is over and spin gets a go. Yuzvendra Chahal gives four in his first over. Pandya in second-change and gives a tidy three runs. Sri Lanka 59/1.
3.07 pm: But all that moving around the crease has finally led to his downfall. Tried to go towards the leg, Bumrah followed him with the slower one. Mishit from Dickwella and Dhawan takes the catch. SL 41/1.
2.50 pm: But seems like Niroshan Dickwella has been listening to us because he’s gone on a mini-assault. 19 off 9 now, with a six and four off Bumrah and another one off Bhuvi. Sri Lanka 25/0.
2.35 pm: It’s been a slow start so far for Sri Lanka. 2/0 off 2 overs.
300 international ODI matches for Virat Kohli!
I tend to agree with this gent.
2.15 pm: Another match, another toss. Kohli wins another one. India will field first, Sri Lanka will bat. Ho hum.
No changes from India. Kohli says experiments are more in the role of the team. But Sri Lanka have made three. Chameera, Dananjaya and Siriwardana are in. Thisara, Wanidu and Sandakan are out. Three pacers for Sri Lanka. And that might be helpful.
2.00 pm: Right. Good afternoon. Beautiful Pallekele in Kandy is the venue for the second ODI.
And to continue your build-up to the match, here’s an explainer into how Virat Kohli has become a fitness god.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!