In the second ODI between Sri Lanka and India at the R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, the hosts scored a challenging 240/9 thanks to heroic lower-order resistance from Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis, who saved Sri Lanka’s innings for the second time in as many outings.
After choosing to bat first on a dry surface, Sri Lanka struggled to reach 136/6 in 34.5 overs, even though Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando put up a solid 74 runs together. However, Wellalage (39) and Kamindu (40) put on an outstanding 72 runs off 68 balls for the seventh wicket.
Due to the efforts of the two, Sri Lanka managed to reach a respectable total, particularly with 79 runs coming from the final ten overs. Furthermore, Kamindu’s selection over Mohamed Shiraz, a quick bowler, is turning out to be a wise choice. Washington Sundar top scored for India with 3-30, while Axar Patel (1-38) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-33) split three wickets apiece.
Pathum Nissanka felt for the ball angling in on the opening ball, but Mohammed Siraj gave India a wicket when it seam away late to take an outside edge and was caught by KL Rahul falling to his right.
From the beginning, Fernando looked at ease. He covered drives and easily removed Arshdeep Singh for boundaries, then chipped and heaved Siraj for two fours. Kusal, on the other hand, remained steadfast and even managed to weather an Axar caught-behind appeal.
At the start of the drinks break, Fernando broke the important second-wicket stand when he swept Washington for a boundary. The off-spinner struck when he captured the leading edge coming from the batter’s attempted flick off his own bowling. Kusal was stranded plumb lbw after missing the delivery on sweep in Washington’s subsequent over.
The decision to put in Axar, who had consistently challenged the batters in his opening stint, paid off when Sadeera Samawickrama attempted a slog but mishandled, getting caught by a cover fielder who was backpedalling.
Washington overruled Janith Liyanage’s caught-behind appeal on review, but Liyanage was caught off guard by Kuldeep’s slow outside off-stump delivery and smashed the drive straight to the spinner, who made a leaping overhead grab in his follow-through.
Washington returned to claim his third wicket, giving backward point a straightforward catch after upsetting Charith Asalanka with turn and bounce. Reverse-sweeping Kuldeep to start the rearguard action, Kamindu was granted a reprieve when Shivam Dube failed to make the catch.
Wellalage contributed by getting Axar past third man for four and getting just enough on the slog to beat long-on for six. Wellalage was a good run maker between the wickets. After that, he hit a lofted off-drive for six against Siraj and then Mendis went for a boundary against Arshdeep by going down the ground.
Nevertheless, Wellalage’s attempt to reverse-sweep Kuldeep was not timed well, resulting in a catch to a short fine leg. After Akila Dananjaya edged past Arshdeep for four, both Mendis and he lofted Siraj for a boundary. In the last over, Kamindu hit a low full toss over point off Arshdeep for four, but he and Dananjaya were run out on the final two balls of the innings.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 240/9 (Kamindu Mendis 40, Avishka Fernando 40; Washington Sundar 3-30, Kuldeep Yadav 2-33) against India