India, who routed Pakistan by 124 runs in Birmingham on Sunday, face struggling Sri Lanka in their second match at the Champions Trophy on Thursday at the Oval. Virat Kohli’s side made a memorable start to the tournament as the defending champions crushed arch rivals Pakistan.
After India piled up 319 for three in 48 overs, they turned the screw on Pakistan, dismissing them for 164 as they failed to chase down a rain-reduced target of 289.On the other hand, beaten by 96 runs by South Africa, there is no margin for error for Sri Lanka. Mathews’ side must beat India to keep alive their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
LIVE UPDATES:
Wrapping up with this. Cricket, you funny game!
A FAMOUS WIN FOR SRI LANKA! Angelo Mathews reaches his 50 with a delightful straight drive and then a single to finish it off. Points to his name on the jersey in celebration. Congratulations, Sri Lanka!
Sri Lanka need 8 runs from 12 balls: 8 from Bhuvi’s last, 4 from Bumrah’s last and it’s a canter for Sri Lanka now...
Sri Lanka need 21 runs from 24 balls: Dear goodness, was that the shot of the match by Gunaratne! Gets down on one knee and sweeps Bumrah for a six.
Sri Lanka need 32 runs from 30 balls: Is that the game for India? 11 runs from Bhuvneshwar’s over as Gunaratne puts away Bhuvi for two boundaries.
Sri Lanka need 43 runs from 36 balls: 8 runs off that over, including a six! Gunaratne started off suspect but he pulls Yadav over fine leg for a maximum. Lanka are cruising.
Sri Lanka need 51 runs off 42 balls: Better over from Bhuvi. SL are impaired by Perera’s hamstring. 6 off it. Now Perera has walked off retired hurt. Gunaratne is in. A lucky break for India?
Sri Lanka need 57 runs off 48 balls: Angelo Mathews is doing it in some style! Yadav goes for 10 runs again, two exquisite boundaries from the captain. First an off-drive and then a paddle sweep over fine leg.
Are India headed for a shock defeat? Sri Lanka need 75 runs in 60 balls after 10 runs from Umesh Yadav’s over. They’ll fancy it. Angelo Mathews is still out there. Big worries for Virat Kohli. Win predictor has swung in Lanka’s favour...
Sri Lanka need 85 off 66 balls: Kohli’s going back to his trusted bowlers. Yadav and Bumrah concede 5 each in their overs. No signs of the yorkers yet.
Sri Lanka need 95 from 78 balls: Oh dear, a day to forget for India’s all-rounders. 21 runs from the 2 overs of Pandya and Jadeja. 13 overs, 103 runs and one wicket for India’s all-rounders today so far. Mathews with a nonchalant pull-flick and Perera with a lofted shot over mid-off in that Pandya over.
Sri Lanjka need 116 from 90 balls: Jadeja and Pandya bowling in tandem now. Jaddu goes for 7 but Pandya concedes just 3. Mathews and Kusal Perera settling in now.
Oh, what have you done Sri Lanka! It’s the well-set Kusal Mendis who is run-out now after brilliant work from Bhuvi off his own bowling. A bullet direct hit... After 33 overs, Sri Lanka 196/3
After 32 overs Sri Lanka 194/2: 2 more overs from Jadhav and Kohli, and you would think that is it from the duo. Six overs combined for 35 runs. Bhuvi into the attack now...
After 30 overs Sri Lanka 184/2: One more over each for Kohli & Jadhav. Remember what we said earlier about the 5th bowler becoming a problem for India? 25 runs from their 4 overs so far. Perera is the new man in.
Ladies & Gentlemen, Virat Kohli is bowling... and India get a breakthrough! Not the current captain though, it’s the former captain India need to thank for. Lightning quick glove-work from Dhoni as Gunathilaka is caught short running for a second.
After 27 overs Sri Lanka 162/1: Desperate times for India. Kedar Jadhav comes into the attack with his “frisbee throwing” off-spinners. Just 4 runs from that over.
After 26 overs Sri Lanka 158/1 : Oh dear, it’s Pandya’s turn to get clobbered. Hat-trick of fours from Mendis in that over – a lofted straight drive, top-edged pull over keeper and a proper pull over square leg. Rohit put down a tough chance earlier in that over. Sri Lanka are cruising here.
After 25 overs, Sri Lanka 143/1: Not been Jadeja’s day today at all with the ball. 16 runs from his 4th over. Mendis too gets to his 50 with a six, and then Gunthalika reverse sweeps and cuts for fours.
India are under the pump big time at the Oval. Remember England comfortably chased down 305 at this venue on first day of CT17.
After 22 overs Sri Lanka 120/1: The partnership has gone past 100, India are struggling to get tight overs in, even Jadeja. He has gone for 13 from his 2 overs. (Won’t be happy with Yuvraj for this though...)
After 19 over Sri Lanka 98/1: Pandya is going for some runs and the 5th bowler could become a problem for India. Gunathilka gets to his 50 with a massive six over midwicket.
After 18 overs Sri Lanka 90/1: Mixed start for Pandya, his 2nd over was a maiden but he drops a fairly simple return catch to dismiss Mendis. His 3rd over goes for 11 runs too as Gunathilaka takes him on. Jadeja comes into the attack in the 18th over, concedes just 3. India searching for a breakthrough.
Drinks. Partnership is now 79 and counting.
After 13 overs SL 62/1: Gunathilaka and Mendis have put on 50 runs together as Sri Lanka rebuild steadily. Bumrah and Pandya have taken over from Bhuvi and Umesh.
After 10 overs SL 44/1: A not-so-dissimilar powerplay for Sri Lanka compared to India. India were 48/0. Gunathilaka is getting into the groove now, as superb straight drive off Umesh. Kusal Mendis edges one to 3rd man for 4, where 2nd slip would have been.
After 8 overs SL 34/1: That 8th over saw Sri Lanka finally get some momentum. 12 runs from Umesh, as Gunathilaka first pulls over fine leg for 6 and then drives through the cover for 4. Kusal Mendis is the other batsman in the middle now.
And India have their first breakthrough: Dickwella succumbs to the pressure of the dot balls and plays a rash shot, edge goes to point where Jadeja makes no mistake. (Does he ever?) SL are 15/1 after 5 overs.
After 4 overs, SL 11/0: A lot of swings and misses from the Sri Lankan openers so far. Gunathilka tries a few times to hit it hard but finds the fielders with unerring precision.
After 2 overs, SL 4/0: Bhuvi and Umesh off to a good start. Just two runs each from their first overs. Steady line and length. And the fielding looks sharp. (Unlike against Pakistan)
07:15 pm: The chase has begun. Bhuvi with the ball in his hands. Can Sri Lanka pull this off?
Some reaction to India’s effort. Join us in a while for Sri Lanka’s chase.
After 50 overs, 321/6: 15 off the last over. 103 off the last 10 overs! A fine end to the Indian innings.
Dhoni falls off the 2nd ball of the but Jadhav finishes off in sweeping style – six and four and four, all sweeps in the square leg region off a fast bowler.
After 49 overs India 306/5: 17 runs from these two overs and moreover, Dhoni’s 62nd ODI fifty. A fine innings from Mahi. Even turns a good 48th over from Thisara Perera into a good one for India with a last ball six, a massive hit.
After 47 overs India 289/5: India’s final push continues in full force. 19 runs from the last two overs. Hardik comes and goes though, not before hitting a six over midwicket. Jadhav is the new batsman.
After 45 overs India 271/4: End of a fine innings from Shikhar Dhawan. Can hardly remember a bad shot he played today, except some slogging after he got to his 100. A standing ovation from the Oval for a superb 125 off 128 balls. Dhoni keeps going with a boundary off the very next ball. Pandya joins him in the middle.
After 44 overs, India 261/3: 54 runs from the last 5 overs for India. This is some acceleration by India. Dhawan is going after almost every ball now and was almost caught at the midwicket, a skier was put down. Dhoni bludgeons one through the covers for a 4, despite two deep fielders. Power hitting!
After 42 overs, India 243/3: Dhoni and Dhawan have put their foot on the gas! India’s late acceleration is underway. 9 runs from the 41st over, and 16 runs from the 42nd by Pradeep! Dhoni with two boundaries, and Dhawan with a pull over fine leg for six.
That familiar celebration! Boy, Shikhar Dhawan does love the Champions Trophy. His 3rd hundred in the event and it’s a magnificent, near-flawless innings.
After 38 overs India 200/3: Again, a period of consolidation. Dhawan is into the 90s, Dhoni starts like Dhoni would – easing into the innings. MS Dhoni 15 (19b) & Dhawan 91 (107b)
After 35 overs India 188/3: An unfortunate dismissal for Yuvraj Singh, who yorks himself. Digs it out, it hits the pitch and bounces behind to clip the bails! MS Dhoni is in now and gets off the mark with a six over 3rd man and survives a DRS review for LBW as well.
After 33 overs, India 178/2: A bit of consolidation by Dhawan and Yuvraj, 9 runs from the last 3 overs. Dhawan is into the 80s.
Meanwhile, some stats about a rare duck for Virat Kohli...
After 30 overs, India 169/2: Since Virat Kohli’s dismissal, Dhawan has just raced along. Yuvraj & Dhawan have added 30 runs & Dhawan has scored 28 off them. 5 boundaries in that!
After 26 overs, 139/2: Virat Kohli. Caught behind. In England. Outside edge. Again! Memories of 2014, as Kohli falls for a duck. Yes, a duck!
After 11 overs 138/1: India lose their first wicket! Rohit Sharma goes for one pull too many, and after a six over fine leg, gets caught at the same area. A fine innings again, but no 100.
Back-to-back 50s for Dhawan as well!
After 23 overs India 124/0: Sharma is stepping on the gas, 27 runs from his last 20 balls. Drives Gunathilaka and then Malinga for boundaries. Dhawan meanwhile is inching towards his 50.
After 20 overs India 107/0: Back-to-back fifties for Rohit Sharma & just like he did against Pakistan he gets there with a pull for six! Two sixes in that Perera as well, both pulled. The one to get his 50 was almost caught, but tipped over. The next one was flat and hard.
Some interesting technical adjustments from Dhawan...
Look at this for consistency at the top of the order in Champions Trophy...
After 17 overs, India 86/0: Dhawan and Rohit continue on their merry way as we have the first drinks break off the match. 23 runs from the last four overs, and mostly risk free. Pradeep and spinner Gunathilaka bowling in tandem and the Indian duo just rotate it around. Just two boundaries in that spell of play, a sweep each by Dhawan and Rohit.
After 13 overs, India 63/0: 15 runs in the 3 overs after first powerplay, the run-rate inching close to 5. This is where Dhawan and Rohit are dangerous.
After 10 overs, India 48/0: Just like clockwork, India (Who average about 48 in the first powerplay) have made 48 in the first powerplay. Rohit getting a move on as well, with two boundaries in the 9th over off Lakmal. First a typical pull shot, and then a typical square drive.
BANTER ALERT: Atherton and Ganguly have some good-humoured banter on air.
After 8 overs India 36-0: Dhawan is playing the aggressor, two boundaries in the sixth over (back-to-back) off Lakmal in the sixth over. A close call in the 8th over as a quick single results in Rohit almost getting out. Direct hit would have been curtains. Rohit on 10 off 18 and Dhawan on 26 off 30.
After 5 overs India 17-0: After a bit of a lull in 3rd and 4th overs, Dhawan gets a boundary off the last ball of the 5th – a rasping cover drive. Usual cautious start for India.
After 2 overs India 10/0: Dhawan gets a boundary to his name too – short and wide and cut away for four. Lakmal did beat him once with one that seamed back in.
After 1 over India 4/0: Malinga starts off for Sri Lanka and it’s a typical Rohit square drive off the first ball – lazy (he hates that word) and elegant. 5 dot balls to follow. Not much movement seen so far.
3:00 pm: How Sri Lanka would love to have this man in their lineup...
2:50 pm: The drone has the pitch report here:
2:40 pm: India are unchanged, no surprises there. Three changes for Sri Lanka, with Mathews coming in for the banned Tharanga, of course.
Sri Lanka: N Dickwella, D Gunathilaka, K Mendis, D Chandimal, A Mathews, K Perera, A Gunaratne, T Perera, S Lakmal, L Malinga, N Pradeep
India: RG Sharma, S Dhawan, V Kohli, Y Singh, MS Dhoni, K Jadhav, H Pandya, R Jadeja, B Kumar, U Yadav, J Bumrah
2:38 pm: So India will be batting first again. Angelo Mathews wins the toss.
2.00 PM: Good afternoon everyone!
It’s clear for now at The Oval and both teams are looking keyed in at early practice.
Can Sri Lanka offer some resistance to a rampaging India? They can look to Pakistan for inspiration. Keep following us as we find out!