India 277 for 7 (Chahar 69*, Suryakumar 53, Hasaranga 3-37) beat Sri Lanka 275 for 9 (Asalanka 65, Fernando 50, Chahal 3-50)Sri Lanka had India by the collar. Chasing 276, the visitors were 116 for 5 at one stage. When No. 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar joined No. 8 Deepak Chahar at the crease, they still had 83 runs to get off 89 balls.But they refused to be beaten. Chahar, with one List A half-century to his name before this innings, fought doggedly and intelligently, producing a stirring 69 not out that wrenched the game from Sri Lanka’s fist. Bhuvneshwar, three List A half-centuries on his record, supported him staunchly through the high-pressure overs, finding singles, hitting only two boundaries through his 28-ball innings. And together they achieved the target almost comfortably in the end – with five balls to spare, the batting of the spinners unrequired.That Chahar had batting chops was well known, but it was the poise that he brought to this innings that was staggering. He made calculated strikes through the late overs, even when Sri Lanka had preserved overs from their two gun bowlers – Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera – for the death. He rotated the strike beautifully when India were still some way off, hitting only one boundary in his first 45 balls. When they were in striking distance, he hit fours all around the ground: carving behind point, bludgeoning through midwicket, flicking behind square leg, and even hoisting the wayward Lakshan Sandakan over wide long-off to hit India’s only six.
RESULT2nd ODI (D/N), Colombo (RPS), Jul 20 2021, India tour of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka275/9
India(49.1/50 ov, target 276)277/7India won by 3 wickets (with 5 balls remaining)PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Deepak ChaharIndia