INDIA MANAGED TO SURVIVE IN THE THRILLING 2ND ODI

Another outstanding performance by the Indian team against the home team to register their seven straight win in one day internationals.In the thrilling match on saturday at Colombo,India managed to snatch a victory by the margin of only 15 runs from the home team and took a 2-0 lead in the 5 ODI series.
Even after setting a competitive target of 257 for Sri Lanka,it was not an easy win for the visitors as the match went to the last over to decide the winner of the game.
Earlier after winning the toss and electing to bat, first Indian team posted a competitive 256-9 in their 50 overs with the help of Yuvraj Singh (66 runs of 88 balls) and Virendra Sehwag (42 runs of 26 balls).

Indian team opened their inning with V.Sehwag and S.Tendulkar but once again Sachin got the bad decision as he was adjudged lbw for 6 runs.
Then Gautam Gambhir came to the creeze and he and Virendra Sehwag both brought back the team on track with some nice shots. When India was looking like taking the game away from the Lankans, India lost two wickets in a quick succession. First it was Gambhir (27 runs of 28 balls) who got out while trying to guide the ball to third man but in the end just managed to give a simple catch to K.Sangakara. Then Virendra Sehwag who was looking in the great form,was run out by a relay throw from Murlitharan and Jayasuriya while he was trying to take an extra run.

Yuvraj and Suresh Raina provided a good recovery after the double-strike.Raina slogged Tillakaratne Dilshan's first ball for a six but he surprised Raina with some extra bounce and Raina gave a simple catch.Yuvraj went on to score runs with his trademark boundaries.He also hit a six over long-off in Mendis' over.He scored 66 runs of 88 balls before he was given out by umpire's wrong decision.He was given out lbw but replays showed that he had clearly played the ball onto his pad. Aafter Yuvraj got out,Dhoni tried to steady the ship,but he could not stand for a long time.He was caught behind the wicket.In the end,with the help of the tail-enders India reached the score of 256 at the loss of 9 wickets.

Defending a target of 257 runs, Indian pace bowlers did an exceptional job and provided India early breakthroughs. Dilshan,Jayasuriya and Sangakara got out cheeply.

Now it was up to Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardne and new man T.Kandamby to steady the Sri Lankan ship and they did exactly what situation required from both of them.M.Jayawardne finally departed after scoring a well compiled 52 runs of 75 balls.

Now all hopes were on Kandamby to guide his team home.He gave his outstanding performance with the bat.But apart from C.Kapugedara (31 runs of 29 balls) no batsman was able to provide ample support to T.Kadamby as he ran out of partner.Thilina Kandamby's brilliant unbeaten 93 went in vain as Indians held on to their nerves in the tense final moments and India managed to register their second straight win in the series by 15 runs.With this win, India have registered their seventh consecutive ODI victory.

From India Ishant Sharma was the best of bowlers who took four crucial Sri Lankan wickets and all at the right time.He was selected as "The Man of the Match" .

Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar and Pragyan Ojha also took one wicket each.

Match Summary:
India – 256/9 in 50 Overs
Y.Singh- 66 V.Sehwag –42
F.Mefroof– 10-0-40-2 A.Mendis– 10-0-44-2
Sri Lanka – 241/10 in 49.2 Overs
T.Kandamby- 93* M.Jayawardne – 52
I.Sharma– 10-1-57-4 P.Kumar– 8.2-1-22-1

Result:
India won the match by 15 runs
India leads the series by 2-0