Batting with resolve and bowling with venom, India levelled the series. But more significantly, the host made a timely and firm statement — on a typical sub-continent pitch, this Sri Lankan combination has little chance of winning.
Notwithstanding Thisara Perera’s hat-trick in the 19th over, in which he claimed Hardik Pandya, Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh, it was India all the way. Eventually, India cruised to an overwhelming 69-run victory with a commanding display at the packed JSCA Stadium.
Local hero Mahendra Singh Dhoni lost the toss but conceded very little thereafter. His men delivered on all counts. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Pandya and Raina all took turns to punish the bowlers on way to setting a target of 197.
Once the chase started, Dhoni turned to R. Ashwin to start the proceedings and the crafty off-spinner provided the breakthrough in the opening over. From the other end, Ashish Nehra again struck twice upfront to underscore his presence in the side.
With Lanka down to 16 for three and 59 for five, the writing was on the wall. Barring an innings or two of extraordinary brilliance, India was not to be denied on this day. Lanka could only manage 127 for nine in reply.
Interestingly, Dhoni chose to use spin for the better part of the innings. In fact, he did not summon the services of Jasprit Bumrah until the 16th over!
Chase never really on A fighting stand of 52 came from skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedara before they departed in successive overs. But, the chase was never really on.
Clearly, it was a different ball-game from the one seen at Pune earlier in the week. On a pitch where the faster bowlers from Lanka were made to look ordinary, the Indians scored 10 or more runs from 10 overs!
As anticipated, the Indian openers, particularly Shikhar Dhawan, hit the top gear early. They allowed just eight dot balls in the first six overs while raising 70 runs.
Dhawan’s two sixes — one each in the second and third overs — preceded his seven boundaries. He reached his 50 off 22 deliveries and departed soon after having done his job.
Dhawan was particularly severe on Kasun Rajitha, who sliced the through the cream of Indian batting at Pune. In the fourth over, and Rajitha’s second, Rohit welcomed him with a boundary before Dhawan, who was later named man-of-the-match, smashed three more in succession as the bowler leaked 17 runs!
Tumbling catch After Dhawan’s departure, Rohit kept up the pace even as Ajinkya Rahane settled down by smartly rotating the strike. Rohit, who smashed a six over midwicket off leg-spinner Seekuge Prasanna, departed to a tumbling return catch by Dushmantha Chameera. This meant a wicket for Chameera in each of first two overs.
Raina and Pandya had no trouble in taking turns to be part of the blitz. The two raised 59 with Pandya hitting two successive sixes off Senanayake and Raina hitting four boundaries in an over off Chameera.
