Late-order fight carries Sri Lanka to 240/9 against India in 2nd ODI

Indian spinners led by Washington Sundar test Sri Lankan batters, who manage 240/9 with late-order fight in 2nd ODI.

Indian spinners led by Washington Sundar put the batters through a test of skill, but Sri Lanka found just enough fight from their late order to make an acceptable 240 for nine in the second ODI here on August 4.

Washington Sundar (3/30) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/33) were at their smartest on a pitch that offered them plenty of assistance after Lankan captain Charith Asalanka decided to bat first.

It required a 72-run association for the seventh wicket between Dunith Wellalage (39) and Kamindu Mendis (40) for them to wriggle out of a stifling 136 for six. However, the first blow for India was landed by Mohammed Siraj when he had in-form Pathum Nissanka caught by KL Rahul behind the wicket.

A perfect outswinger pitched just outside the off-stump line led Nissanka to his doom. But, a recovery phase followed as Avishka Fernando (40, 62b, 5x4) and Kusal Mendis (30, 42b, 3x4) used the freshness of the new ball to add 74 for a rather fluent second wicket stand.

But, once the spinners began to operate from both ends the scoring rate dwindled, and the Lankans were forced to nudge the ball around for runs.

Fernando leaned forward to turn the ball to onside but Washington Sundar just had to hold on to the resultant leading edge.

Mendis went for a sweep against Washington Sundar, but missed it altogether and the umpire had the simple job of accepting the shout for leg before.