The 2nd ODI between India and Sri Lanka at Mohali happens to be the 350th One Day International for the Little Master Sachin Tendulkar. Yuvraj Singh, the local boy is all set to play his first ODI in his hometown. But more than these two records, entire India is expecting a bounce back from the Lankan Lions who have been wounded badly at Nagpur. Can the World’s second best side in ODIs, Sri Lanka show how good they are today?

The Toss

Dravid once again had won the toss and keeping the dew factor in his mind, he had decided to field first. India have got in Murali Kartik into the playing eleven and have put up Sree Santh as the Super Sub. Sri Lankans have dropped Dilhara Lokuhettige and have brought in left arm swing bowler Nuwan Zoysa and have put Upul Chandana as the super sub.

 

Sri Lankan batting

Irfan Pathan struck in his very first over as Jayasuriya went for his flashing shot towards thirdman. Jayasuriya had gone for a six but he couldn’t connect his most destructive shot and found Virender Sehwag at thirdman taking an easy catch. Agarkar who was opening the bowling with Pathan contributed to his side by sending the out of form Atapattu back to the pavilion as the latter poked at his away swinger. Sri Lanka needed a special knock from Sangakkara and Jayawardene, but both fell playing rash shots and Lanka were down and out with most of their batting stars gone. Pathan followed Sangakkara’s wicket with a wicket in the very next ball packing Tillakaratne Dilshan with his killer inswinger. Although Pathan failed to become the 3rd Indian bowler after Kapil and Chetan Sharma to take a One Day hat-trick, he had done enough damage to put Sri Lanka out of the match. The Turbanator Harbhajan Singh got the better of Russel Arnold once again and Jai Prakash Yadav with his tight line and length got 2 wickets in 2 balls that of Maharoof and Zoysa. With all these blows, Sri Lanka were never with a chance to even put up a respectable total and were packed off for a partly total of 122. Their innings lasted just 35.4 overs and Sangakkara was the top scorer with just 27. Irfan Pathan set it up with his spell with the new ball taking 4/37 in 8 overs.

 

Indian chase

The Indian batsmen had to negotiate 10 overs before the supper break after having bowled out Sri Lanka in just under 35 overs. Sehwag and Sachin began their assault on Vaas and Zoysa. Boundaries after boundaries rolled by as the two matched each other shot to shot and boundary to boundary. Atapattu had to bring in Muralitharan very soon and the great offie was greeted with a blistering lofted straight drive from Sachin. Maharoof who was brought into bowl the last over before the supper break foxed Sehwag with his slower delivery. Sehwag was out after making a quick 38 in just 29 balls with 5 4s and a six over fine leg. By then India had knocked off 80 out of the 123 runs target. Tendulkar returned after the break along with Jai Prakash Yadav and added 35 more runs before Yadav got lbw to Muralitharan’s doosra. Muralitharan did have a good comeback against Sachin, for more than an over he had gone past the right hander’s bat. But they weren’t many runs left in the match to witness a classic contest between Murali and Sachin. India wrapped the game in just 20.2 overs with Tendulkar remaining unbeaten on 67. He scored these runs in just 69 balls and had hit 11 boundaries.

Man of the Match was Irfan Pathan for his 4 wickets burst. Now that India has gone 2-0 up and that they have beaten Sri Lanka comprehensively in the 2 ODIs makes the Lankans a demoralized unit. The 3rd ODI is on the 31st and is in the Pink City – Jaipur and news is that there is a green top waiting for the match.