The second ODI between India and Sri Lanka at Pallekele is one of the exciting ODI that finally lived u to the expectations of cricket fans. Winning the toss, the undisputed team has elected to bowl first and attacked the Lions with the same intense played in the Test series and the first ODI.
Chasing a target of 232 runs to win, team India made a strong start to their innings, with openers Rohit Sharma (54) and Shikhar Dhawan (49) stitching a pivotal 109-run stand to provide the visitors with an initial thrust. Unfortunately for everyone’s shock, the Men in Blue has suffered a dramatic collapse, losing their seven wickets for just 22 runs.
Right-arm Sri Lanka spinner Akila Dananjay wreaked havoc as he scalped six wickets by conceding just 39 runs to take his side in the course of a dramatic win. India was given a real scare and once again needed the expertise and experience of MS Dhoni, after a reprieve.
MS Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar registered a 100-run partnership for the eighth wicket to help Team India secure 3-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the second ODI, but if it wasn’t for the former’s luck in the 35th over, the visitors would most likely have lost the match.
The incident happened in the 35th over when Dhoni was batting on 29. survived a crucial moment when a ball from pacer Vishwa Fernando hit his pads and even went on to hit the stumps but the bails did not fall. Dhoni, facing the delivery, got a big inside edge that deflected from his pad and rolled towards the stumps.
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However, the bails stood still and so did a billion hearts across India. That was just the luck that Dhoni needed as he then batted with confidence and guided Bhuvneshwar Kumar ably to score the singles and two’s around the ground. That lucky MS Dhoni needed and he made full use of the opportunity by staying in the middle and taking India across the line.
Dhoni went on to score 45, but more importantly, was involved in a match-winning unbeaten 100-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (53), who slammed his maiden fifty in one-day internationals. Team India is now in lead with 2-0 and two sides will lock horns in the third ODI on August 27.
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