Amazing Win by India by 3 Wickets In 2nd. ODI Against Sri Lanka
Venue: Pallekele Stadium, Sri Lanka
Date: 24th. August 2017 – 2.30 PM
Occasion: 2nd. ODI
This win was just like the bolt from the blue as India Team was in a great trouble, chances for winning this match were very little inasmuch as India were 131 runs for 7 wickets and it appeared too difficult to chase 231 runs in 47 overs of Sri Lanka team in accordance with Duc birth Luis rule.
Though Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan added 103 runs jointly – Rohit Sharma – 54 runs and Shikhar Dhawan – 49 runs but unfortunately both went to pavilion while Rohit Sharma was run out and Shikhar Dhawan was bowled by Srivardhana and caught by Mathews.
The most tragic incident that made India Team hopeless that the Sri Lankan bowler Akola Dhananjay took 6 wickets one after another within merely 12 runs and with this unexpected loss of 6 wickets saddened the faces of India Team and its supporters in the ground and off the ground who were watching the match anxiously and were expecting India team would repeat the earlier victory but were disappointed all along till then.
It is necessary to know as to how and when 6 wickets gone:
- Rohit Sharma lbw bowled Dananjay at 54 runs.
- KL Rahul bowled Dananjay at 04 runs.
- Kedar Jadhav bowled Dananjay at 01 run.
- Virat Kohli bowled Dananjay at 04 runs.
- Hardik Pandya bowled Dananjay at 00 run.
- Akshar Patel lbw Dhananjay at 06 runs.
At what total of runs India lost wickets:
109 Rohit Sharma out
113 Shikhar Dhawan out
114 Kedar Jadhav out
118 Virat Kohli out
119 KL Rahul out
121 Hardik Pandya out
131 Axar Patel out
When Axar Patel was out, Dhoni was at 7 runs and
In 41.1 overs B. Kumar was at 51 while Dhoni was 43 and India total runs scored till now was 226 for 7 wickets.
Thus, Dhananjay took 6 wickets giving only 12 runs within no time and created havoc among the rest of the players left out to bat and chase 231 runs, moreover India Team was lagging behind by 101 runs to win while the wickets in hand was 3 only.
MS Dhoni was at the crease and Bhubneshwar Kumar joined him after Akshar Patel was out by lbw at 06 runs only.
The position of India Team was very awkward and there was disappointment among the India Team as it was a long way to cover and the wickets in hand was 3 only, a small mistake by the batsmen at the crease might be fatal and MS Dhoni was well aware of this fact and that was why he used to bat very carefully each and every ball and moreover advising B Kumar to bat patiently and with utmost care.
MS Dhoni was, in fact, leading B Kumar and giving him opportunity to stay tightly and as and when he was confident he could make runs as many as could be possible and without fear and anxiety.
Both the batsmen were batting confidently and whenever finding favorable balls, not hesitating to send them vigorously beyond the boundary lines scoring 4 or 6.
All the spectators were holding their breath and curiously watching this match particularly when there was fight between runs to be made against the balls left out to bowl.
Dhananjay bowled to oust these players but in vain. Dhoni and Kumar smashed his each and every ball all round the field. The other bowlers too could not do any harm to these players.
Ultimately, they recorded a grand partnership of 100 runs, not only this
they remained not out till the hilarious moment of victory by 3 wickets.
People whether in favor or against stood up on their toes, gave big hands and greeted MS Dhoni and Bhubneshwar Kumar for their brilliant play. No exaggeration to say they proved to be the lenders of the last resort in this grand win.
The match was extremely exciting, thrilling and full of suspense. People watching this match at the few last overs holding their breath were quite unware of the result in whose favor match would come to an end as prediction at this stage of ups and downs with the bating and bowling strategy adopted by each team to win at any cost was not possible at all.
Virat Kohli got the winning trophy.
Akila Dhananjaya was declared “Man of the Match.”
I watched the match from beginning to the end holding my breath at the last few overs and was delighted wholly, solely and exclusively with this amazing win by India Team.
Congrats to MS Dhoni & B Kumar!
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