Outplayed in Dharamshala, team India roars back in Mohali

Rohit Sharma, once again, proved that he is an ODI monster. In second ODI match against Sri Lanka, Sharma scored a magical double hundred, his third on Wednesday. He scored a mind-blowing 208 runs (not out) in just 153 balls hitting 12 sixes and 13 boundaries with a strike-rate of 136. Right after they outplayed India in Dharamshala and bowled them out on a mere 112, the Indian captain led the charge in the do-or-die clash as a nightmare unfolded on the Lankans in Mohali and the Indian team piled up a majestic total of 392 in the allotted 50 overs.

In the last game, where the Indian batting order struggled to score runs, captain Sharma also failed terribly, as he scored just 2 runs of 13 balls with a strike-rate of 15.38. But in just two days Rohit managed to score a double century. Sri Lanka’s star bowlers from last match Suranga Lakmal and Nuwan Pradeep collapsed with their bowling in the second ODI, as both of them didn’t get any wicket in the match with very expensive spells. Pradeep, in fact, made a record for conceding most runs as a Sri Lankan bowler. Pradeep’s figure of 106 runs in 10 overs broke Muttiah Muralitharan’s record of 99 runs against Australia.

Lakmal, who took four wickets in Dharamshala and was the star performer that day, ended his spell giving 71 runs in just eight overs with no wickets against his name. Sri Lankan captain Tishara Parera, who looked like the only weak link in a brilliant bowling attack on Sunday, ironically emerged as the most successful bowler in Mohali as he managed to take three wickets by giving 80 runs in his spell of eight overs.

On Wednesday along with captain Sharma, his opening partner Shikhar Dhawan also gave a fantastic start to team India by hitting 68 runs of 67 balls which includes 9 fours with the strike-rate of 101.49. Rohit Sharma and Shikhar dhawan build a partnership of 115 runs, Before Dhawan’s was dismissed by Sri Lankan left arm-spinner Sachith Patirana. Dhawan had failed to open his account in Dharamshala.

The new recruit in team India, Shreyas Iyer, who had failed to show his charm with bat in Dharamshala and the move to select him over Ajinkya Rahane was criticised, matched his skipper’s rhythm ball-by-ball. He had actually outscored Sharma when the duo had put up 150 runs together. After that the Hitman show began and it was all about sixes all around. Iyer scored a magnificent 88 runs of 70 balls; which included 2 maximums and 9 boundaries with a strike-rate close to 12. Skipper Sharma and Iyer contributed together 213 runs, which provided the strength to the middle batting order.

At the time of publishing this report, Sri Lanka has already lost five wickets in the 31st over. They still need more than 230 runs in the remaining 19 overs. The chances of a Lankan fightback look bleak but then, cricket is a game of uncertainties.