India-SL Cricket Series: Jeffrey Vandersay heroics help Sri Lanka sink India in 2nd ODI

Colombo, August 4
Sri Lanka leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay ripped through India’s batting line-up with a maiden One-day International six-wicket haul to guide his side to a 32-run win in the second game of the three-match series on Sunday.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sri Lanka struggled against seamer Mohammed Siraj, who dismissed opener Pathum Nissanka with the first ball of the match before Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis steadied the innings with a 74-run stand.
The home side lost wickets at regular intervals, but lower-order batters Dunith Wellalage (39) and Kamindu Mendis (40) came to their rescue to help post a total of 240/9.
India’s chase got off to a blistering start as in-form captain Rohit Sharma scored 64 runs off 44 deliveries before he was dismissed by the 34-year-old Vandersay.
Sri Lanka did a terrific job of defending the total and bowling India out for 208 in 42.2 overs. India opener Shubman Gill (35), Virat Kohli (14) and Shreyas Iyer (7) were removed cheaply, while Shivam Dube and KL Rahul fell for golden ducks.
All-rounder Axar Patel scored run-a-ball 44, but a disciplined fielding and bowling effort by Sri Lanka, in which skipper Charith Asalanka claimed three wickets, secured victory for the hosts.
With the opening ODI ending in a dramatic tie, Sri Lanka will aim to seal the series in the final match at the same venue on Wednesday.
“There was a lot of pressure coming into the side. I was coming off a layoff. I had to do something. It’s easy to take credit with a spell like this but I want to give credit to the batters also for taking us to such a competitive total,” Vandersay said.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka: 240/9 in 50 overs (Avishka Fernando 40, Kamindu Mendis 40; Washington Sundar 3/30); India: 208 all out in 42.2 overs (Rohit Sharma 64, Axar Patel 44; Jeffrey Vandersay 6/33). — Reuters