When you are going through a bad/lean phase, you tend to find ways to lose. Sri Lanka figured that out in Kandy in the 2nd ODI. Chasing 231 with the match reduced to 47 overs due to rain, India were streaming along nicely at 109-0 and an encore of the 1st ODI was on the cards with the crowd very quiet. But in 38 balls, the crowd in Kandy suddenly found its voice with India at a stuttering 131-7 with Akila Dananjaya ripping apart India’s top and middle order. But what followed was typical Test match-like stuff. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and the ice-man MS Dhoni took India home with typical Test match-like unbeaten 100-run partnership. And the hosts have two days to recover from this heartbreak as they look to keep the series alive in the 3rd ODI.
Sri Lanka don’t seem to learn from their mistakes. They repeated the same mistakes while batting, throwing away decent starts, not building on a good platform. Batting needs to shoulder a lot more responsibility. Their fast bowlers were wayward, didn’t maintain the pressure and contributed to the 12 of the 14 wides bowled by Sri Lanka. But their fielding was top notch which added to the pressure. So, for Sri Lanka it looked like a case of so close, yet so far.
India scripted a miraculous turnaround through a Dhoni-Bhuvi mastermind. Kohli had promised a few surprises and he did shuffle the batting order with KL Rahul and Jadhav batting ahead of him. Though, the experiment failed, it was worth a try. Their bowling was consistent again, controlling the run flow and picking up wickets at regular intervals after Sri Lanka openers were off to a good start. India will want to wrap up the series in the 3rd one-day.
WHEN: 27TH AUGUST, SUNDAY – 2:30 PM, 2:30 PM LOCAL
WHERE: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele
TEAM NEWS
SRI LANKA: Out of the 3 changes, Sri Lanka made, two of them (Siriwardana and Dananjaya) showed spark in their performances. Two changes are guaranteed for the hosts as their captain Tharanga received a ban for two ODIs. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka hurt his shoulder while fielding, thus will not take part in the following ODIs. Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne have been called up and Chamara Kapugedera will captain the side. The bowling may remain the same even though the fast bowlers haven’t picked up a wicket in this series.
LIKELY XI: Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Chamara Kapugedera (C), Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera/Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Lasith Malinga, Vishwa Fernando
INDIA: Kohli has suggested a few changes will be made throughout the series so you cannot rule out the possibility of any combination. Hardik Pandya was seen limping around while fielding, so his fitness is an issue. The batting should remain the same. Kuldeep Yadav might get a game as well.
LIKELY XI: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav/ Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah
STATS
- MS DHONI needs 1 stumping to become the first wicketkeeper to effect 100 stumpings in his ODI career. He has the joint-highest stumpings with 99 stumpings (Kumar Sangakkara also effected 99).
- Lasith Malinga is 2 wickets away from becoming the fourth Sri Lankan bowler to take 300 wickets.
- Sri Lanka have lost 6 out of the last 7 ODIs against India.
SQUADS
SRI LANKA: Chamara Kapugedera (c), Angelo Mathews, Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis, Milinda Siriwardana, Malinda Pushpakumara, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lasith Malinga, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne
INDIA: Virat Kohli(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni, Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
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