India vs Sri Lanka 2nd ODI: Sri Lanka defeated India by 32 runs in the second ODI. Sri Lanka batted first and set a target of 241 runs. The Indian team started well while chasing the target. Captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill made an opening partnership of 97 runs for India. However, later Sri Lankan leg spinner Geoffrey Wanders turned the tables of the match by taking 6 wickets. After which India collapsed for 208 runs in 42.2 overs. Sri Lanka is currently leading the series 1-0. The first ODI match was a tie, the third match will be played on August 7.
The home team has the upper hand in the first two matches
It cannot be claimed whether Sri Lanka itself had demanded a spin friendly pitch for the ODI series against India or not, but it cannot be ignored that the host team has benefited a lot in the first two matches. Also, Sri Lanka attacked Team India with the weapon of spin.
Indian batsmen were helpless against spin
In the first two ODIs against Sri Lanka, Indian batsmen looked helpless against spin. Dangerous batsmen like Virat Kohli, Shivam Dubey, Shreyas Iyer, Shubman Gill and KL Rahul became victims of Sri Lankan spinners. So far in the ODI series, Rohit Sharma alone has shown that if you want to be successful in Sri Lanka, score runs and win matches, then you have to play aggressive style of cricket.
Team India was all out for just 208 runs
Team India's troubles have not reduced even in the second ODI against Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the series due to injury and was replaced by Jeffrey Vandersay. Vandersay took 6 wickets for 33 runs in 10 overs in the second ODI and brought India's star batsman to his knees. Team India, which had star players like Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, was all out for just 208 runs and lost the match by 32 runs.
Rohit also expressed his anger after the match
Captain Rohit Sharma said after the match that the Indian batsmen will have to adapt to the pitch here. With a combination of left and right-handed batsmen, we thought it would be easy to rotate the strike, but to Jeffrey's credit, he took six wickets.
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka said that a score of 240 runs was enough for the situation. I was happy with the score. 240 was a very good score. As a captain, I like such challenges. Vandersay's spell was excellent.
“There was a lot of pressure on the team,” said Vandersay, the 'player of the match'. “I was coming back after a rest. It's easy to take credit for him, but I also want to give credit to the batsmen who made 240 runs.”