Deepak shines with bat and ball and India wins the series

By Kersi Meher-Homji

India won the second One Day International (ODI) against Sri Lanka in Colombo last night (Tuesday) to win the series 2-0. The Man of the Match was India’s medium-fast swing bowler Deepak Chahar who took two vital wickets and scored an unbeaten 69 to rescue India from a possible defeat to a three-wicket victory.

Batting first, Sri Lanka made a challenging 9 for 275 in 50 overs, Charith Aslanka top scoring with 65. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took 3 for 54, Yuzvendra Chahal 3 for 50 and Deepak Chahar 2 for 53.

In reply, India was struggling but Suryakumar Yadav (53) and Chahar, batting at number 8, scored a valuable 69 not out off 82 balls (with 7 fours and a six) to enable India to win by three wickets in the final over. Chahar came in to bat with India down in the dumps at 6 for 160, still 118 runs needed for a win. But he kept his cool and India triumphed.

A relieved match winner Deepak Chahar said at the presentation, “Only one thing was going in my mind: this is the kind of innings you dream of, when you start playing cricket and start batting. One day I’ll bat for India – bat at number 7, 8 maybe 9 – and finish the match. No better way to win the match for the country.

“Rahul [Dravid] sir [had previously] told me to play all the balls. I’ve played a few innings with India A and I think he has belief in me. He told me he thinks I’m good enough to be a No. 7. He has belief in me.

Having won the first ODI on Sunday, India’s second XI has won the series 2-0 with one ODI to be played on Friday.

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