Xtra Time Web Desk: Deepak Chahar played the knock (69 off 82) of his career so far as he along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (19 off 28) scripted a thrilling 3 wickets win over Sri Lanka to clinch the three match ODI series 2-0 at R Premadasa stadium on Tuesday. Chasing 276 for a win the Indian lower middle order got the team home with 5 balls to spare. Bhuvneshwar and Deepak shared an unbeaten partnership of 84 runs for the seventh wicket to guide India home.
Chahar, whose highest score before this game was 12, showed remarkable resolve and composure under pressure to take his team over the line with five balls to spare. He fittingly hit the winning boundary. It was India’s ninth consecutive bilateral series win over Sri Lanka. The third ODI will be played on Friday.
It was expected to be another comfortable chase for India after Sri Lanka put an improved batting effort to post 275 for nine. Matters became more difficult for the visitors as poor shot selection from majority of the Indian batsmen gave the hosts hope of clinching their first win against India at Premadasa since 2012. Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the Lankan bowlers with 3/37.
Both Prithvi Shaw and Ishan Kishan got out to bad shots early in their innings. Skipper Shikhar Dhawan (29 off 38) was not at his fluent best for the second game in a row and was trapped in front by Hasaranga. Manish Pandey (37) was unfortunate to be run out off a deflection from the bowler’s hand and Hardik Pandya hitting it straight to mid wicket with hard hands left India reeling at 116 for five.
Suryakumar once again displayed sublime touch to score 53 off 44 balls. He and Krunal stitched a 44-run stand before Chahar produced a stunner from nowhere for a remarkable win.
Earlier, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal led India’s decent effort with the ball with 3/50. Bhuvneshwar Kumar too chipped in with 3/54 while Chahar got 2/53.