2nd ODI: Woeful batting let India down; Sri Lanka draw level

Biswajit Jha

Hambantota (Sri Lanka): Openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan slammed fine fifties as Sri Lanka registered a thumping 9-wicket win over India in the 2nd ODI to level the series 1-1 on Tuesday after their bowlers skittled India out for a meagre 138 runs. Scorecard » Also Read: Virat Kohli destined for greatness? » Chasing only 139 for the win, Tharanga and Dilshan batted well and denied India any wicket till Dilshan was removed for 50 by Ashwin. But, by then Sri Lanka were 119/1, just 19 short of the target. Both the batsmen looked really impressive as they plundered runs at will. They made a mockery of the target and saw their team home in 19.5 overs. Like the batsmen, Indian bowlers looked pedestrian all through the innings. Tharanga remained unbeaten on 59 runs off 60 balls while Dinesh Chandimal remained not out on 6 as the hosts pocketed the match with more than 30 overs to spare. Earlier, opener Gautam Gambhir played a fighting knock of 65 but failed to change the fortune of the Indian team in the 2nd ODI as Sri Lanka bowlers, led by Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews wrecked havoc bowling India out for a paltry 138 runs. Gambhir could have become the first Indian to carry his bat in the ODIs but he was the last wicket to fall for India. He completed his 50 off 71 balls. He stood tall amidst the ruins and saw wickets tumbling around him at regular intervals. India, however, started reasonably well after deciding to bat first. The openers scored 31 runs in just 3.6 overs with Virender Sehwag looking all set to make another big score. But once Sehewag got out, the flood gate opened for Sri Lanka. Perera took a brilliant diving catch off his own bowling to dismiss the Indian opener. From there on, it was Sri Lanka all the way. In his next over, he consumed centurion of the last match, Virat Kohli for only 1. Rohit Sharma came and went without troubling the scorecard. Mathews bowled him. It was Perera’s turn in the very next over. One of his balls kept low. Suresh Raina failed to block it. He was bowled for just 1. India, at that particular juncture, lost three wickets without adding any run on the board. Skipper MS Dhoni, along with Gambhir, tried to take Indian innings back on track for a while. But Dhoni (11) ultimately gave a simple catch to wicketkeeper Sangakkara off Mathews. India were in deep trouble, losing 5 wickets for just 60 runs. Gambhir, however, stood tall amidst the ruins. Pathan had his chance to show his worth as an all-rounder and cement his place in the team. But he could not utilise the opportunity, getting out for 6. Malinga came back to take the wicket in the 19th over of the match. India were staring down the barrel then and the result of the match was all but a foregone conclusion. Ashwin was playing well. But his horrible sense of running between the wickets cost him his wicket as India lost their 7th wicket in the 24th over of the match. Ashwin made 21. Zaheer Khan and Pragyan Ojha did not come up with any significant contribution as India were finally skittled out for 138. Follow Biswajit Jha on Twitter