A fighting knock of 93 not out by middle order batsman Thilina Kandamby was in vain as Sri Lanka crashed to their second successive defeat by 15 runs at the hands of India at the Premadasa Stadium, yesterday.

Thilina Kandamby who made a fighting 93 not out is watched by Indian skipper and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni as he hits the ball during the second one-day international cricket match of the five match series between India and Sri Lanka, at Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Pic by Sanka Vidanagama

Kandamby’s129 ball knock that had nine fours could not drive home the much wanted win as Sri Lanka lost their last three wickets in a heap – with all being run outs.

For India it was fast bowler Ishant Sharma who drove home the advantage with a haul of 4 for 57 off his ten overs and he was duly adjudged man of the match.

Sri Lanka started off well with openers T.M. Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya scoring eleven runs in the very first over bowled by Zaheer Khan. But, that euphoria was short lived as by the eighth over the Lankan scorecard read a bleak 3 for 36 with Jayasuriya, Dilshan and Sangakkara back in the rest room.

Once again it was up to Lanka’s new pressure absorber Thilina Kandamby to join his skipper Mahela Jayawardena in order to stem the rot. The pair added 100 runs for the 4th wicket before Jayawardena drove left arm spinner Ojha to extra cover to be held by Yusuf Pathan as the batsman was breaking his shackles after completing his first half century in 13 innings. Mahela hit a six and a four in his 75 ball stay at the crease. Awhile before the Jayawardena departure, play was held up for eight minutes when Indian fast bowler Ishant Sharma was hit on his back with a nut. However the culprit was caught and evicted.
After Jayewardene’s stay at the wicket, Kandamby and Chamara Kapugedera added another valuable 51 runs when the latter was out for 31.

Earlier the Indian batting machine defied Muttiah Muralithran’s bid for the record tally of ODI wickets as the off spinner was sent back wicket less. Muralitharan bowled quite tidily to trundle his ten for the cost of 32 runs, but he could not break the record.

Muralitharan who already has the world record of Test wickets is looking to break the ODI tally held by Pakistani legend Wasim Akram and needs another two wickets. Muralitharan presently is on 500 wickets.
India won the toss and electing to bat lost an early wicket when veteran Sachin Tendulkar was trapped leg before by fast improving Nuwan Kulasekera for 6. Then the surviving opener Virendra Sehwag had a brisk 49 run stand with Gautam Ghambhir before fast medium Farveez Maharoof had the left hander caught behind for 27 in the fifth ball of his first over.

However, with the score at 83 Sehwag who looked good for a long innings was run out for 42 while looking out for an unlikely third run and the for a while the Indian score looked a tentative 83 for 3.
Then, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina steadied the innings with a fighting 85 run stand for the fourth wicket before Raina offered a dolly catch to Kapugedera who was fielding at short mid wicket off the bowling of T.M. Dilshan for 27.