Sri Lanka’s limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga has been handed a two-match ban after his side failed to finish their allotted overs within the stipulated time during Sri Lanka’s 2nd straight loss to India in Pallekele.
Tharanga hasn’t been in the best of touches and has given away his wicket in bizarre fashion. It might be a blow for the hosts given his experience, but it will also allow a newcomer to make full use of his opportunity.
In Tharanga’s absence, middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedera will lead the Island nation in the next two matches as per a release from the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC). Lahiru Thirmane and Test captain Dinesh Chandimal has also been brought back to the squad for the remainder of the series. Opener Danushka Gunathilaka suffered a shoulder injury during the 2nd ODI which has ruled him out of the rest of the series and needed approximately ten days rest to recover.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka for the first time gave some fight to India in the 2nd ODI, but despite the heroics of youngster Akila Dananjaya which saw him finishing with dream figures of 6/54, Sri Lanka couldn’t capitalise on their advantage and eventually lost by three wickets to surrender a 0-2 lead to India.
Chasing a mediocre 236 to win, India began brilliantly with both openers taking the Sri Lankan bowling to the cleaners.
The duo shared yet another 100 runs partnership, but following the dismissal of Rohit Sharma on 109, there was a procession of sorts as the visitors kept wickets at regular intervals which saw them slip from 109/0 to 131/7.
Dananjaya bagged six wickets in 21 deliveries by giving away only 11 runs. He was just exceptional and bagged four of his six wickets with wrong-uns which the Indian batsman couldn’t pick, what so ever.