Sri Lanka secured a hard-fought 32-run victory over India in a gripping contest, with Jeffrey Vandersay emerging as the star of the match.
Batting first, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total of 240 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Contributions from Avishka Fernando (40), Dunith Wellalage (39), and Kamindu Mendis (40) provided the backbone of the innings. For India, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav were the standout bowlers, keeping the Sri Lankan batsmen in check.
In response, India struggled to build momentum and were bowled out for 208 in 42.2 overs. Captain Rohit Sharma top-scored with a determined 64, while Axar Patel added a fighting 44. However, it was Vandersay’s exceptional bowling that turned the tide in Sri Lanka's favor. He claimed 6 wickets for just 36 runs, dismantling India’s batting order. Charith Asalanka provided crucial support, taking 3 wickets to further destabilize the Indian chase.
Vandersay's match-winning performance earned him the Player of the Match award. Reflecting on his performance, Vandersay said, "There was a lot of pressure coming into the side, especially after a layoff. While it's easy to take credit for my performance, I want to acknowledge the batters who scored 240 runs, making it easier for me to bowl in good areas."
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma expressed disappointment over the loss, stating, "Losing a game is always painful. Consistency is key, and we didn't manage that today. Credit to Jeffrey Vandersay for his impressive six-wicket haul. There'll be talks about our batting in the middle overs."
Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka was pleased with his team’s performance, particularly the bowling attack. "I was quite satisfied with our score of 240, which I felt was sufficient. Vandersay delivered an unbelievable spell, especially considering the opposition was over 90 runs when he started bowling," he remarked.
The victory adds momentum to Sri Lanka's campaign, while India will look to regroup and address the issues in their batting lineup as they move forward in the series.
