With the curtain-raiser controversially ending in a tie, Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss in the second ODI. No Sri Lanka batter reached a fifty, but a collective effort from Avishka Fernando (40 off 62 balls), Dunith Wellalage (39 off 35), and Kamindu Mendis (40 off 44) meant the hosts racked up a competitive total of 240 runs on the board.
Much like the first match, India started their chase strongly before losing their way thereafter. Another blazing innings from Rohit Sharma (64 off 44) took the hosts to 97-0 in the 14th over.
But then, Jeffrey Vandersay, coming in as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, triggered a collapse. The leg-spinner took the first six wickets, reducing India to 147-6. India couldn’t recover from the cluster of wickets and succumbed to a 32-run defeat. Sri Lanka last won an ODI over India in July 2021 and a bilateral series in August 1997.
Following the result, congratulatory messages poured in for Sri Lanka and Vandersay on social media, while many rued India’s loss. India's assistant coach Abhishek Nayar termed the result a "shock" during the post-match press conference. "Was it a shock? I would say yes, there is a surprise," Nayar said.
Woohoo @OfficialSLC How good was that win in front of a packed and passionate crowd #SlVInd Well done to everyone for this incredible turnaround .. Congratulations guys 👏👏👏
— Russel Arnold (@RusselArnold69) August 4, 2024
What a game!! One I’ll never forget for sure. Maiden 5 for and man of the match award.
— Jeffrey Vandersay (@Vandersay) August 4, 2024
Emotional and Grateful for the opportunity. pic.twitter.com/0UthTlBjHm
Congratulations @OfficialSLC on a fantastic win ! @Vandersay was outstanding 👏👏👏 let’s wrap it up now 👊👊
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) August 4, 2024
Sensational win @OfficialSLC coming to the series as the underdogs managing to win against a strong Indian line-up. Congratulations are in order for the entire team and especially for the outstanding performers of the day Charith, Dunith, Kamindu and @Vandersay 🙌👏🏼 #SLvIND
— Farveez Maharoof (@farveezmaharoof) August 4, 2024
First time since 1997
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 4, 2024
Sri Lanka🇱🇰 did not lose an ODI bilateral series vs India!
(excluded a fully washed out series) pic.twitter.com/yk3ZHRfA1M
Wellalage can be a star if Sri Lanka look after him well. With Nissanka and Pathirana, and Asalanka if he rediscovers his class, Sri Lanka can have a very good core. I say "can" rather than "will" because their recent track record in converting promise into outstanding…
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 4, 2024
In ODIs of last 30 years
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) August 4, 2024
Total six-wicket hauls against India:-
5 - SRI LANKA🇱🇰
1 - New Zealand🇳🇿
1 - Pakistan🇵🇰
1 - Australia🇦🇺
1 - Bangladesh🇧🇩
1 - England🏴
Muralidaran, Ajantha, Mathews, Akila and Vandersay are the Sri Lankans who did it.#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/tGvGwHEHU5
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