Analytical review of the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Dambulla on 20 August, 2008.

India broke the spell of humiliating defeats today at Dambulla by beating Sri Lanka by 3 wickets. The public is cheering, the critics are eating their words and the coach Gary Kirsten is “satisfied”. The jubilated fans will call us sadists, but let’s admit it, achieving 143 after losing 7 wickets does not really call for celebration.

Zaheer Khan’s taut bowling restricted Sri Lanka to 142, 4 runs lesser than what India made in the first ODI. The difference remained in the way the paltry targets were achieved. While Sri Lanka sailed smoothly to the target, India huffed and puffed and managed to win. At one point of time, India were 75 for 5 when Dhoni (39) and Badrinath (27*) took charge and carried India to victory.

Zaheer Khan stole the show with his superb bowling spell in which he showed the door to Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Kapugedara before Sri Lanka reached a total of 10. Jayasuriya failed to perform yet another time when he was required to. Sri Lanka was in a deep mess at 44-6 when Kulasekara and Thushara put up the 74 run stand to take the hosts to a three-figure total. 143 was no

Everest to climb but the Indians were in a mood to stage a complete drama. Dhoni’s experiments with the lineup continued as India sent its 12th opening pair since January 2007. It started as the opening pair of Irfan Pathan and Virat Kohli (!) came to start the innings. Kohli finally managed to dust some dirt off his shoulders after a no-show in his debut match. His 37 was of notable contribution in an innings where the best of batsmen fumbled against the Sri Lankan bowlers. However it was the MSD-Badrinath partnership that snatched the match which had strangely started to tilt in favor of the hosts. Badrinath, who had missed national selection by whisker in recent past, finally made his mark in a minor yet consequential innings.

The 5-match series stands leveled after India’s victory today. The tension is lesser now as a 2-0 in favor of Sri Lanka would have made winning the series (nearly) Mission Impossible for India. However this victory will not go anywhere in making the boys feel more confident for the rest of the matches coming up.

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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