Deepak Chahar rescues India to seal series victory

Deepak Chahar rescues India to seal series victory

India pulled off a stunning heist in the 2nd ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo and sealed the series victory after a miraculous 84-run partnership between Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The Men in Blue were dead and buried in their chase of 275 at 193/7 after 36 overs, but Deepak Chahar scored an excellent 69* and was provided great company by Bhuvneshwar Kumar as the pacers guided India home with the bat to secure a famous victory.

On a much better batting surface in the 2nd ODI, Sri Lanka posted 275 thanks to half-centuries from Avishka Fernando & Charith Asalanka and a late cameo from Chamika Karunaratne. The Sri Lankan openers got the hosts off to a great start in the powerplay, but India hit back in the middle overs through Yuzvendra Chahal and Deepak Chahar.  

At one stage, 275 looked like an unrealistic score for Sri Lanka, but a maiden half-century from Asalanka and some lusty blows from Karunaratne at the death propelled the Islanders to a more competitive total.

After an excellent outing in the opening encounter, India’s top order didn’t last very long in the 2nd ODI, with both Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan departing inside the first five overs. Shaw started with a hat-trick of boundaries but lost his off-stump after misreading a googly from Wandindu Hasaranga, while Ishan Kishan lasted only four deliveries after chopping on to his stumps.

The Indian skipper Shikhar Dhawan was dismissed soon after and was followed by Manish Pandey and Hardik Pandya in quick succession to put India in a spot of bother at 116-5. Suryakumar Yadav launched India’s fightback with an extravagant half-century and was provided good company by his Mumbai Indians teammate Krunal Pandya.

However, neither batter could bat through the innings and take India home and were both dismissed by the Sri Lankan spinners. Lakshan Sandakan trapped Suryakumar Yadav on his pads while Wanindu Hasaranga cleaned up Krunal Pandya a few overs later to put the hosts in the driving seat.

India were staring down the barrel of a rare defeat at 193/7, but Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar hung in there for the visitors and slowly inched towards the target. The duo used all their experience of playing in pressure situations in the IPL and carefully built a partnership, and took the game deep.

Chahar grew in confidence after smacking Sandakan for a six over long-on with Sri Lanka beginning to make few mistakes in the field as the pressure mounted. The pair played out the remaining two overs of Sri Lanka’s most dangerous bowler – Wanindu Hasaranga – and attacked the seamers from the other end while also benefitting from some luck and outside edges. Chahar reached his half-century off 64 deliveries and eventually hit the winning runs in the last over to secure India’s 9th consecutive bilateral ODI series victory against Sri Lanka.