After winning the toss in the second ODI at Kandy, Virat Kohli invited the hosts to bat. The Sri Lankan opening duo started well with Niroshan Dickwella (31) displaying early fireworks.However, the visitors soon made some crucial inroads as the home side started losing the plot.
At one stage, Sri Lanka were tottering at 121 for 5. Milind Siriwardana rescued the hosts from this situation with a run-a-ball 58. His stand with Chamara Kapugedara (40) ensured that the hosts finished at a respectable 236/8. Jasprit Bumrah (4/43) bowled a sensational spell and he was well supported by Yuzvendra Chahal (2/43).
A brief spell of shower during the dinner interval meant that India had a revised target of 231 in 47 overs under the DLS method.
Team India started the chase on a confident note with Shikhar Dhawan (49) continuing his great form on this tour. Rohit Sharma (54) looked at ease and it seemed like one-way traffic at 109/0 in the 15th over.
However the Lankans had an ace up their sleeve. Akila Dananjaya bowled a sensational spell, leaving the Indian batsmen shell-shocked. From 109/0, the visitors collapsed to 131/7 as Dananjaya sliced through the middle-order. None of the batsmen had a clue and it seemed like Akila's 6 wickets will ensure that Sri Lanka will finally get a victory under their belt.
However MS Dhoni (45*) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (53*) produced India's best effort for the eighth wicket in ODI history with a 100-run stand, to ensure that the all win record of the Men-in-Blue continued in Emerald Isles.
With the 3-wicket win, Team India now lead the series 2-0.
