India have recovered from a precarious 4-86 to beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets and take the collection within the second one-day worldwide, with KL Rahul ending up as their hero.
Rahul led India with an unbeaten 64 off 103 balls, with Kuldeep Yadav hitting the profitable boundary within the forty fourth over of Thursday’s contest to take India to their goal on 6-219 in reply to Sri Lanka’s 215 all out with a few overs remaining.
“We thought it was a 280-300 wicket but our bowlers did well to keep them to under 220,” Rahul, who batted at 5 relatively than as an opener, mentioned.
“They put up a good fight and got breakthroughs. It wasn’t a wicket impossible to bat on, and we always try to find a way to win. Batting at number five has helped me understand my game better.”
India now have an unassailable 2-0 lead with the final ODI scheduled for Sunday at Thiruvananthapuram.
Earlier, Yadav had picked up 3-51 to assist bowl out Sri Lanka, who’d been thriving at 1-102, with 10.2 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka debutant Nuwanidu Fernando opened with a sedate maiden half-century earlier than being caught up in a careless run-out. He scored 50 off 63 balls.
Fernando placed on 73 for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis (34) however when the latter was trapped by Yadav within the seventeenth over, Sri Lanka collapsed.
Yadav additionally dismissed Charitha Asalanka (15) and bowled Dasun Shanaka (2) as Sri Lanka slipped from 1-102 to 6-126 in 7.2 overs.
Sri Lanka managed to cross 200 solely due to Dunith Wellalage’s late cameo of 32 off 34 balls.
India made a horrible begin to the chase when Sri Lanka’s pacers exploited the dewy circumstances.
Rohit Sharma was caught behind for 17, and Shubman Gill was out for 21 to Lahiru Kumara, who additionally bowled Virat Kohli for 4.
India have been ailing at 3-62, which quickly turned 4-86 when Shreyas Iyer (28) was out lbw to Kasun Rajitha.
But Rahul then constructed a partnership with Hardik Pandya (36) price 75 for the fifth wicket.
Despite Pandya’s dismissal, Rahul continued to carry the innings collectively, reaching his eleventh half-century off 93 balls, together with six fours.
Axar Patel added 21 off 21 balls to speed up India’s profitable chase.
