IND v SL, 2nd ODI, 2022-23: Kuldeep's 3-fer, Rahul's 64* help India win 10th home series against SL
India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, Top Performances: Kuldeep Yadav's 3-51, KL Rahul's 64 and Nuwanidu Fernando's 50 are top performances. India beat Sri Lanka by 4 wickets at Eden Gardens and lead three-match series by 2-0.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 215 (Nuwanidu Fernando 50, Mendis 34, Kuldeep 3-51, Siraj 3-30) lost to India 219-6 (Rahul 64*, Hardik 36, Karunaratne 2-51) by 4 wickets
Player of the Match: Kuldeep Yadav – 3-51
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Being one-down in the series, it was crucial for Sri Lanka to win this match. But, after winning the toss Sri Lanka could not capitalise on this advantage.
They had a slow start with Avishka Fernando and the debutant Nuwaindu Fernando on the crease. In the powerplay, they lost Avishka. Siraj knocked him over for 20(17). Kusal Mendis and Nuwaindu lent some stability and put on a solid partnership of 73 runs for the second wicket.
It is very important to have more than one solid partnership in ODIs and that is where Sri Lanka failed. There was not a single batter apart from Fernando who scored more than 35 runs.
India’s reply began with Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill coming into bat with positive intent. However, both the openers got out after getting a start. Virat Kohli, the centurion of the previous game too got out cheaply. It was a length ball from Lahiru Kumara that came in sharply. Kohli had no answer for that and was cleaned up.
It was the fifth wicket partnership of 75 between KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya that steadies India’s ship after they were 86-4 at one stage. Rahul took India home with a well-made 64* as the hosts wrapped up their 10th home ODI series victory against Sri Lanka.
Read More: Ind vs SL, ODIs: Key Questions - Gill or Kishan for opener’s slot, Rahul or SKY for middle order?
Let’s take a look at the top performances from the second ODI between India and Sri Lanka in Kolkata.
Nuwanidu Fernando scores fifty on debut
Nuwanidu scored a half-century on debut, and Kusal looked good at the other end. It was a special knock from the debutant. The pitch was not that easy to bat on and there were wickets falling around him. Also, whenever you play your first game there are always butterflies in your stomach. Yet he kept his calm and scored a brilliant half-century.
Nuwanidu was