India defeated Sri Lanka in the 2nd ODI at Eden Gardens, Kolkata by 4 wickets to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match ODI series. The Indian bowlers first restricted their opponents to an average 215 runs and then KL Rahul, with some help from Iyer, Pandya and Axar, chased down the total with 40 balls to spare. The final one-day match of the 3-match series will be played at Thiruvananthapuram.
Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka started on a positive note with Avishka Fernando teeing off in the first over of Mohammad Siraj. On the other hand, the debutant Nuwanidu Fernando took some time to get used to International cricket. After Fernando’s dismissal, the Lankan kept the tempo up with Kusal Mendis and Nuwanido scoring at free will. The duo stitched a 79-run partnership to take Sri Lanka past 100.
Nuwanidu reached his maiden fifty in his debut match but a brilliant fielding effort from Gill saw him go back to the pavilion. What followed was a mini collapse as 7 Sri Lankan wickets fell for 75 runs. Kuldeep Yadav and Umran Malik ran through the Lankan middle order to leave them reeling at 177 for 8. Handy contributions from Wellalage and Rajitha pushed the Sri Lankan total beyond 200 and they eventually finished with 215.
India started the chase well with Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill going bonkers in the first 4 overs. Spectators were expecting another Rohit masterclass at his favorite hunting ground Eden Gardens but he was dismissed in the 5th over when India’s score read 33. Gill and Kohli followed in quick succession. KL Rahul, not playing in his usual number in this series, stitched some handy partnerships with Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav to push India over the finishing line. KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 64 from 113 balls.
Kuldeep Yadav, for his astounding figure of 3 for 50 from 10 overs, was adjudged the player of the match.
