Vandersay shellshocks India with career best 6/33

Sri Lanka Captain Charith Asalanka (second from left) celebrates with his team their win over India 

• Sri Lanka end seven-match losing streak against India
• Go one-up in three-match ODI series

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

An astonishing spell of leg-spin bowling by Jeffrey Vandersay that saw him pick the first six wickets powered Sri Lanka to a famous 32-run win in the second ODI and end a seven-match losing streak against India at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Vandersay came into the side as an injury replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga who was ruled out of the series with a left hamstring injury, and what a performance he turned on, finishing with figures of 6/33, his first five-fer in this format, as he completely flummoxed India’s batsmen for 208 all out in 42.2 overs chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 240-9. 

Vandersay, who took the Player of the Match award, recorded the seventh best figures in ODIs for Sri Lanka and the fourth best against India.

While Vandersay creamed off the Indian top order, skipper Charith Asalanka, with his off-breaks, ran through the bottom half taking three wickets including the important wickets of Axar Patel, who resisted with a run-a-ball 44 (4 fours, 2 sixes), and Washington Sundar (15 off 40) who were leading India’s lower order resistance with a partnership of 38 off 60 balls. 

India got off the blocks with a rollicking start, provided again by their captain Rohit Sharma, who raced away to 64 off 44 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) and put on an opening stand of 97 off 81 balls with Shubman Gill (35). But like in the first ODI, India continued to lose wickets once Sharma was dismissed, and it was a procession as Vandersay got into the act and started to lay India on the mat. India lost nine wickets for 92 to follow their seven wickets for 100 collapse in the first ODI that ended in a tie.

Sri Lanka had to depend on their lower order to get them to a challenging total. Mohammad Siraj got an early breakthrough by getting Prabath Nissanka first ball of the match, but Avishka Fernando (40 off 62 balls, 5 fours) and Kusal Mendis (30 off 42 balls, 3 fours) led a recovery with a 74-run stand. Again, the middle order failed to deliver when Sri Lanka lost five wickets for 62 to be 136-6. 

It was left once again to Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis, who was included as the seventh batsman in the side (in place of fast bowler Mohammad Shiraz), to rescue them with a stand of 72 off 68 balls for the seventh wicket. Wellalage made 39 off 35 balls (1 four, 2 sixes) and Kamindu 40 off 44 balls (4 fours). Akila Dananjaya contributed a valuable 15 off 13 as India struggled to pick up wickets towards the end.

Spinner Washington Sundar took three wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav and Axar shared three wickets between them. 

Sri Lanka went with only one frontline pacer, but with five spinners on a tricky and turning surface, they managed to squeeze the life out of India.

The third and final ODI will take place at the same venue on Wednesday. With the first ODI ending in a tie, Sri Lanka cannot lose the series but either win 2-0 or draw 1-all.

Jeffrey Vandersay rejoices the wicket of Virat Kohli on his way to career best figures of 6/33

Indian Captain Rohit Sharma scored his second fifty of the series with 64

Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando added 74 for the second wicket at the top

Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage during their 72-run liaison for the seventh wicket