Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 8th wicket partnership saw India home in the 2nd ODI vs Sri Lanka (BCCI)
Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Image Credits: BCCI

Bhuvneshwar Kumar stated that the duo’s aim was just to take the match till the last over against Sri Lanka after stitching a match-winning partnership with Deepak Chahar who smashed an unbeaten 69 and shared an unbeaten 84-run stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (19*) to take India home after the visitors were reduced to 193/7 in the second ODI.

India was down and almost out in their chase but Deepak Chahar made sure India get past the target in the final over. Sri Lanka had set India a target of 276 after Charith Asalanka playing only his 4th ODI scored 65 off 68 balls.,

Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar (Photo: Twitter/BCCI)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar (Photo: Twitter/BCCI)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar: Aim Was To Play Till The Last Over

India needed 16 runs to win in the last three overs and the duo ensured the visitors do not lose any wickets and then guided the Shikhar Dhawan-led side to win with five balls to spare. With this victory, India has taken an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

“Our aim was to play till the last over. We want to take it as deep as possible so we can score runs. There was not much planning, the only plan we had is to play till the last. The way Deepak batted was amazing,” Bhuvneshwar Kumar Told ANI in a post-match conference organized by BCCI.

Charith Asalanka top-scored for Sri Lanka with 65 ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images
Charith Asalanka top-scored for Sri Lanka with 65 ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images

Batting first, Sri Lanka was on 194/6 in the 40th over when Charith Asalanka revived the hosts’ innings. Charith Asalanka’s fighting fifty kept Sri Lanka ticking the scoreboard as the hosts reached 244 before he got out.

In the last two overs, Sri Lanka scored 23 runs to reach 275 despite losing two wickets in the final six balls. This win is also the first time India has successfully chased down a target of 250+ without any of the top three scoring 50+ since beating Zimbabwe in Auckland in WC 2015, chasing 288.

Deepak Chahar’s 69 And Suryakumar Yadav’s 53 Snatches Win Against Sri Lanka In The 2nd ODI From The Jaws Of Defeat

Sri Lanka had India by the collar. Chasing 276, the visitors was 116 for 5 at one stage and later 193/7. 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. Deepak 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.
Suryakumar Yadav
Suryakumar Yadav (BCCI)

Bhuvneshwar Kumar, with 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.

Suryakumar Yadav also struck a graceful 53 off 44 to raise India up from the hole they had fallen into.

India 277 for 7 (Chahar 69*, Suryakumar 53, Hasaranga 3-37) beat Sri Lanka 275 for 9 (Asalanka 65, Fernando 50, Chahal 3-50)