Highlights, India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI at Colombo, Full Cricket Score: Chahar, Bhuvneshwar help visitors clinch thriller, seal series

23:45 (IST)

Much like the nail-biter that was the Nidahas Trophy final in the island nation three years ago, this game will surely go down as one of India’s most memorable wins of all time, one where all hope was lost with five down and more than half of the runs yet to be chased. With Krunal Pandya’s dismissal, it seemed only a matter of time before Sri Lanka would clean up the Indian tail.

This is however a different Indian side, one that — much like Rahane’s heroes at Gabba earlier this year — simply refuses to give up no matter what situation. Deepak Chahar had never scored an ODI half-century before this game, and his best score was 12. Yet he would’ve learnt a thing or two about finishing games from his skipper at the Chennai Super Kings, and chose this day to channel all those skills and script a miraculous three-wicket victory in Colombo.

Expect a multitude of changes in the Indian XI in the final game of the series — that takes place on the 23rd with the visitors already having clinched the series 2-0. Sri Lanka have not just pride to play for in the series finale — there’s crucial World Cup Super League points on offer as well, points which could make or break their qualification for the mega-event in India in 2023.

Thank you for joining us in our coverage of the second ODI. On behalf of my colleague Shubham, I bid you all good night!

23:44 (IST)

Shikhar Dhawan, India captain: Felt today wicket was much better than last match and we restricted them on a good score. Bowlers bowled well and adjusted the line and length. We were confident that we can chase well but it did not start well and it is a good lesson for them that every day we will not start that well. The way Pandey, Suryakumar played, we thought they were going to take us through but hard luck for them. Even Krunal played well. Chahar and Bhuvi were great in the end. 

He (Chahar) works hard in nets and his presence of mind, calculations worked. In the last few overs, they (Chahar and Bhuvneshwar) knew they will not take the risk of hitting the leg spinner, they showed calmness and brought victory back to us. 

23:39 (IST)

Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka captain: I’m really proud of the way the boys played today. They fought hard to get a win. Credit to the Indian players, especially Deepak. They took the game away from us. We started well. Middle period we didn’t do well. We should bat well in the last powerplay in the next game. Actually I didn’t bowl for a long time, but took a chance today.

23:38 (IST)

Deepak Chahar is player of the match: A few drop catches and it was hot there. But in the end we managed to stop them below 280 and it was a decent effort on our part. I think only one thing was going on in my mind, it was a dream innings and no better way to win a game for India than this. He (Rahul Dravid) had the belief in me and that was the case here. We have a fantastic batting line-up and I hope not to bat in the upcoming games. When we had less than fifty runs, I thought we can win it. Before that we were looking to just play and rotate strike. 

23:31 (IST)

Surely a win to remember for India!

Wow ! Even some of our bench strength is good enough to beat an international side !! What a win lads ???????????????? @deepak_chahar9 you can bat ???????? @surya_14kumar got a find a place for this talent in top 11 !congratulations skipper @SDhawan25 #rahuldravid and the whole team #INDvSL

— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) July 20, 2021

23:28 (IST)

What a turnaround this has been!

At 193/7, few would have given India a chance, but Deepak Chahar and Bhuvi have pulled off a remarkable win.
Good contributions from SuryaKumar Yadav and Krunal and a win to cherish. #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/UKHrKOKnLV

— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) July 20, 2021

23:23 (IST)

After 49.1 overs,India 277/7 ( Deepak Chahar 69 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 19)

FOUR! Deepak Chahar finishes off in style, as India win by three wickets from a near hopeless situation with five deliveries to spare. What a night for Deepak Chahar, unbeaten on 69 who couldn't have picked a better occasion to score his maiden fifty. What a supporting act from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who had pulled something similar off in the company of MS Dhoni four years ago. An unbeaten 84-run partnership to seal the deal for the visitors!

India clinch the ODI series 2-0!

23:21 (IST)

After 49 overs,India 273/7 ( Deepak Chahar 65 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 19)

Chameera to bowl the crucial penultimate over. Single to Bhuvneshwar first ball, followed by a thick edge off Chahar’s bat that guides the ball between keeper and short third man for a four. Dot off the third. Chahar slashes hard towards deep point, where the fielder fumbles for a brief second, and allows Chahar to dash back for a second. Single off the penultimate delivery of the penultimate over, with Bhuvneshwar collecting a boundary of the last ball. India need just 3 to win from 6 balls!

23:21 (IST)

FOUR! Edged, and the ball flies over short third man once again, this time a little wider, as Bhuvneshwar collects a four off the last ball of the penultimate over! IND 273/7

23:17 (IST)

FOUR! Edged, and the ball flies safely through the gap between keeper and short third man! Another boundary for Chahar! IND 266/7

23:16 (IST)

After 48 overs,India 261/7 ( Deepak Chahar 58 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 14)

Hasaranga bowls his final over of the innings with Bhuvi on strike. Bhuvneshwar sets off for a single off the second delivery, denying Chahar a second run. Dots off the next four deliveries as the pair see Hasaranga off, the leggie signing off with excellent figures of 10-0-37-3 as he gets congratulated by his teammates at the end of his spell. India need another 15 off 12 with three wickets remaining.

23:13 (IST)

After 47 overs,India 260/7 ( Deepak Chahar 58 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 13)

Chameera into his penultimate over. Bhuvneshwar gets a thick outside edge first ball that flies wide of the keeper and runs away to the third man fence. That is followed by a pull towards fine leg for Bhuvi to collect a single. Chahar pulls a short ball going down leg over the keeper’s head for a boundary, before stealing a double next ball to extract full advantage. Some problem for Chahar four deliveries into the over as he starts cramping up, and he needs a quick look from the physio. A bye and a single collected off the last two balls, leaving India with 16 to win from 18 balls.

23:07 (IST)

FOUR! What an over this is turning out to be for the Indians! Short ball down leg, Chahar pulls this over the keeper's head as it runs away towards the long stop fence for a four. Two boundaries in three balls for India! IND 256/7

23:05 (IST)

FOUR! Thick outside edge off Bhuvi's bat and that flies wide of the diving keeper, running away to the third man fence where the man running to his left is unable to get to it. IND 251/7

23:04 (IST)

After 46 overs,India 247/7 ( Deepak Chahar 52 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 7)

Hasaranga, who has been Sri Lanka’s man of the evening with the ball, brought in to bowl his penultimate over. Chahar heaves down the ground off the third delivery, where the ball lands in front of the fielder at long on, allowing the batsman a single. Single to Bhuvi three balls later as he keeps the strike for the next over. Excellent stuff from Hasaranga, as he gives away just two. India need 29 off 24.

23:02 (IST)

After 45 overs,India 245/7 ( Deepak Chahar 51 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 6)

Single collected off each of the first two balls, the first one bringing up the maiden ODI fifty for Chahar that leads to a standing ovation from coach Dravid and everybody else in the Indian pavilion. The next one completes the fifty stand for the eighth wicket. Wide called in the penultimate delivery after Chameera strays down the leg side, followed by a single to Chahar. Sharp bouncer to Bhuvi to end the over. India need 31 off 30.

22:59 (IST)

Fifty partnership up between Chahar and Bhuvneshwar for the eighth wicket, the partnership that is keeping the Indians alive in the game. Chahar of course has the lion's share of runs scored in the stand. IND 243/7

22:57 (IST)

Maiden ODI half-century for Deepak Chahar off 64 deliveries, and it couldn't have come at a more important occasion as he singlehandedly has brought India back into the chase from a position where winning seemed next to impossible. The job's still not done though. India 242/7

22:55 (IST)

After 44 overs,India 241/7 ( Deepak Chahar 49 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5)

Chahar starts off with a brace at the start of the over. An under-pressure Rajitha then concedes a wide, before things get worse for the hosts as Chahar collects back-to-back boundaries, before collecting a single off the last ball to keep the strike. India need 35 off 36 with three wickets in hand.

22:53 (IST)

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Chahar! Slower ball outside off from Rajitha, and he slices this over two fielders stationed behind square on the off side, the ball rolling away past the rope. IND 240/7
 

22:53 (IST)

FOUR! Drilled down the ground by Chahar off Rajitha, and the No 8 batsman moves into the 40s with the powerful shot. IND 236/7

22:51 (IST)

After 43 overs,India 229/7 ( Deepak Chahar 38 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5)

Sandakan signs off on an expensive note as he concedes nine off his last over, including a six to Chahar off the second delivery, to end the evening with 1/71. Chahar’s maximum over long off suddenly has given India renewed hope. The visitors need 47 off 42 with three wickets in hand.

22:50 (IST)

SIX! Smashed over long off by Chahar off the chinaman bowler, going for the slog despite Shanaka placing a man in that direction. That should raise the spirits in the Indian camp now! IND 226/7

22:49 (IST)

After 42 overs,India 220/7 ( Deepak Chahar 29 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 5)

Rajitha returns to the attack and bowls a testing over, one in which he not only denies Chahar boundaries despite repeated attempts, but hits him on his helmet visor with a sharp bouncer that holds play up for a while. Four from the over. India need 56 off 48.

22:39 (IST)

After 41 overs,India 216/7 ( Deepak Chahar 28 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 4)

Sandakan returns to the attack replacing de Silva, with just two overs left in his kitty. A much-needed boundary collected by Chahar in the penultimate delivery as he makes the most of a loose ball, getting down on one knee and sweeping behind square for his second four. Three singles collected apart from it with seven coming from the over. Chahar’s on 28 at the moment, and as long as he’s around, India still aren’t out of the game. India need another 60 off 54.

22:37 (IST)

FOUR! Chahar gets down on one knee and sweeps behind square to collect a much-needed boundary for the Indians, one that should bring the required rate down a touch. IND 215/7
 

22:35 (IST)

After 40 overs,India 209/7 ( Deepak Chahar 22 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 3)

Sharp turn in the second delivery beats both Chahar’s outside edge as well as the keeper’s gloves, running away towards third man for three byes. Bhuvi runs the ball down the ground for a single off the fifth. Chahar keeps the strike with a single off the last ball. End of the second powerplay, with Sri Lanka still very much the favourites to level the series at the moment. India need 67 off 60 with three wickets in hand.

22:33 (IST)

After 39 overs,India 204/7 ( Deepak Chahar 18 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2)

Chahar goes for a few ambitious shots in this over in order to get a boundary or two his way, though the tight field placement means they’re having to scramble for the ones and twos. Back-to-back doubles to Chahar off the fourth and fifth deliveries. Seven from the over. India need 72 off 66 with three wickets in hand.

22:30 (IST)

After 38 overs,India 197/7 ( Deepak Chahar 12 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1)

Just a single off this over, with Chahar collecting a single off the penultimate ball. Hasaranga’s figures read 3/29 from seven overs so far — an excellent day so far by any standard. India need 79 off 72.

22:28 (IST)

After 37 overs,India 196/7 ( Deepak Chahar 11 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1)

De Silva into his second over, maintaining pressure on the Indians by giving away just a single as vice-captain Bhuvneshwar gets off the mark. India need 80 off 78 — first time the required rate is above six.

22:25 (IST)

After 36 overs,India 195/7 ( Deepak Chahar 10 , Bhuvneshwar Kumar 1)

Hasaranga returns to the attack, replacing Chameera, and puts Sri Lanka within touching distance of victory after getting rid of Krunal with a beauty at the start of the over, a body blow to India’s hopes of clinching the series today. India need 81 off 84.

22:23 (IST)

OUT! The man with the golden arm delivers again as Hasaranga gets rid of Krunal with a beauty, the ball pitching along off and jagging back in to narrowly beat the outside edge and clip the pole. Sri Lanka can already sight the finish line after the set batsman's exit. IND 193/7

Krunal b Hasaranga 35(54)

22:23 (IST)

Indians watching Indians play. 

All glued watching the #SLvIND game.#TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/cPElOabP4S

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 20, 2021

22:21 (IST)

After 35 overs,India 193/6 ( Krunal Pandya 35 , Deepak Chahar 9)

Another tidy over for the Lankans, with Krunal and Chahar collecting a single each. The required rate, meanwhile, is starting to rise. India need 83 off 90.

22:16 (IST)

After 34 overs,India 191/6 ( Krunal Pandya 34 , Deepak Chahar 8)

Chameera into his seventh over. Deceives Chahar with a slower ball, and the latter chips it in midwicket’s direction, the ball landing wide of the fielder and allowing the batsman a single. Chameera fires a couple of sharp yorkers to Krunal to keep the southpaw on his toes. Good over from the seamer as he gives away just one off it. India need another 85 off 96 with four wickets in hand.

22:11 (IST)

After 33 overs,India 190/6 ( Krunal Pandya 34 , Deepak Chahar 7)

Six from Sandakan’s eight over, including a first boundary for Chahar this evening as he smacks a full, wide delivery through the covers, a shot that will not doubt give a major boost to his confidence. India need 86 off 102 balls.

22:10 (IST)

FOUR! Chahar's offered plenty of room outside off, and he responds with a well-timed drive through the extra cover region to collect his first boundary. IND 189/6

22:09 (IST)

After 32 overs,India 184/6 ( Krunal Pandya 33 , Deepak Chahar 2)

Couple of leg byes at the start of the over as the ball brushes past Krunal’s thigh before running away to fine leg. Krunal keeps the scoreboard ticking with a single next ball. Four consecutive dots, with some confusion between Chahar and Krunal in the last one as the former wanted to set off for a single, but was sent back after a sharp effort at midwicket. Three from the over. India need 92 from 108.

22:02 (IST)

After 31 overs,India 181/6 ( Krunal Pandya 31 , Deepak Chahar 2)

Krunal starts off Sandakan’s seventh over with a swivel that sends the ball racing away towards deep backward square leg, and follows it up with a single. Chahar steps out for a quick single, but is sent back last minute and narrowly escapes getting run out at the striker’s end. Wide off the last ball followed by a dot. Six from the over India need 95 to win from 114.

22:00 (IST)

FOUR! Long hop from Sandakan, Krunal rocks back and swivels around to guide this towards the backward square leg fence for his third boundary. IND 179/6

21:59 (IST)

After 30 overs,India 175/6 ( Krunal Pandya 26 , Deepak Chahar 2)

Dushmantha Chameera returns to the attack as Shanaka saves Karunaratne for later, unless it’s a change of ends. Krunal drives the ball through extra cover at the start of the over, coming back for an easy second run. Single collected off the fourth and fifth deliveries. Krunal tries to tackle the short ball formula prepared for him by slashing it towards third man. Thankfully for him, it lands just short of the man stationed there. He might have been on his way back had he got a little bit more timing on it. Five from the over. India need 101 off 120 balls.

21:56 (IST)

After 29 overs,India 170/6 ( Krunal Pandya 22 , Deepak Chahar 1)

Sandakan, on a high after dismissing Suryakumar in the previous over, starts off with a wide and concedes four wides off the fourth delivery later in the over. Krunal collects a single next ball, the only run out of six in the over that comes off the bat. India need 106 off 126 balls with 4 wickets in hand.

21:49 (IST)

After 28 overs,India 164/6 ( Krunal Pandya 21 , Deepak Chahar 1)

Karunaratne into his sixth. Impressive-looking drive by Krunal off a fuller delivery from the seamer as he directs the ball towards deep cover for a brace. Next ball, he gets pinged on the helmet as Karunaratne responds with a snorter. Chahar gets off the mark with a single two balls later. Another series of short deliveries to Krunal to end the over. India need 112 off 132 balls.

21:45 (IST)

After 27 overs,India 160/6 ( Krunal Pandya 19 , )

Sandakan starts off this over with a wide and concedes two boundaries in the next four deliveries, the first one bringing up Suryakumar’s maiden ODI half-century, before he possibly grabs the wicket that could seal the victory in their favour, as he traps SKY lbw off the last delivery, the batsman burning a review along the way as he gets three reds. 11 runs and a wicket from this over. India need 116 off 138 with four wickets in hand.

21:43 (IST)

OUT! What a turnaround for Sandakan, who had been leaking runs runs so far in the evening, as he gets rid of the man who stood between them and victory. Suryakumar's not exactly in line of the delivery while defending, and as such the ball jagging back in hits him flush in front of middle, resulting in the umpire raising his finger right away. Surya takes this upstairs, only to burn the review as he gets three reds. Another dangerous-looking partnership broken. IND 159/6

Suryakumar LBW Sandakan 53(44)

21:39 (IST)

FOUR! Sandakan continues to bleed runs, as a juicy full toss is driven past extra cover by Krunal. IND 159/5
 

21:38 (IST)

FOUR! What a way for Suryakumar Yadav to bring up his maiden ODI half-century, taking 42 deliveries to get to the milestone. Drives the ball past extra cover with exquisite timing. Muted celebration from the Mumbai Indians batsman though, knowing the task that lays ahead of him. IND 154/5

21:36 (IST)

After 26 overs,India 149/5 ( Suryakumar Yadav 48 , Krunal Pandya 14)

Karunaratne continues to bowl the testing line along the off stump to Krunal while pitching it short, and the latter opts to leave the deliveries alone rather than risk a shot and end up getting a nick or a top edge. Just two from Karunaratne’s fifth.

21:33 (IST)

After 25 overs,India 147/5 ( Suryakumar Yadav 47 , Krunal Pandya 13)

Sandakan continues. Single off each of the first three deliveries. Suryakumar whips a full delivery from Sandakan through the midwicket region off the fourth delivery, collecting an easy brace on offer. Drives towards mid off next ball, but refuses the single. Dot to end the over. At the halfway stage in their chase, India still are ahead of the Lankans in terms of runs scored at the same stage, but have also lost more wickets. At the same time, the partnership between Surya and Krunal looks promising to the visitors, with 31 runs off 42 balls so far. We certainly are in for an interesting game ahead. India need another 129 from 150 balls.

21:28 (IST)

After 24 overs,India 142/5 ( Suryakumar Yadav 44 , Krunal Pandya 11)

Karunaratne returns right away, bowling from the Khettarama End this time. Digs in short to Krunal in the second ball, only for the batsman to get a thick top-edge that sends the ball sailing over the keeper’s head for a boundary. Karunaratne though, doesn’t drop the intensity thereafter and bowls a couple of more bouncers. Single to Krunal off the fifth, with Suryakumar driving the ball past the diving extra cover fielder to collect a brace off the last delivery. Seven from the over.