India Vs Sri Lanka - II ODI
India was defeated by Sri Lanka by five runs in the second ODI at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium in Rajkot. India were restricted to 252/9 in their 50 overs, after Sri Lanka had posted 257/8. Dravid won the toss in the morning and put Sri Lanka to bat first. For India, Zaheer Khan was replaced by Anil Kumble.
Saurav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar mame 62 and 54 runs respectively. MS.Dhoni (48) made a valiant attempt to take India home. But, his wicket brilliantly caught by Maharoof in the outfield. With this the Sri Lankans deservingly take a 1-0 lead.
For Sri Lanka, the bowling performances of Farveez Maharoof, who bagged 3 for 37 and Malinga Bandara, who picked 2 for 36 was a real confidence booster. India faltered despite the efforts of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Dinesh Kaarthick.
India lost their last five wickets for 17 runs in the space of 27 balls, leaving the 18,000 spectators in a state of shock. Left-arm spinner Sanath Jayasuriya’s bowling put the brakes on India by dismissing Dhoni for 48.
Ganguly and Tendulkar put on 100 runs in 122 balls for the third wicket to put India on the victory path. Ganguly scored 62 runs from 79 balls with six boundaries and a six. Dhoni and Kaarthick tried to rescue Indian team by putting on a sixth-wicket stand of 66.
Patel and Sreesanth rocked the Sri Lankan top order, by reducing them to 58/4. Even the in-form Sanath Jayasuriya (11), who scored a fiery 63 in the last game, did not survive, edging a Patel ourswinger to wicketkeeper Dhoni.
