How 'superman' MS Dhoni helped India win thriller over Sri Lanka
India veteran MS Dhoni plays a shot during the second ODI against Sri Lanka at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy yesterday, Pic/PTI
Sri Lankan off-spinner Akila Dananjaya stunned Virat Kohli's Indian team by claiming six wickets to leave the visitors tottering.
But Mahendra Singh Dhoni came out and proved why no pundit can doubt his greatness.
The former captain scored 45 off 68 balls to see India home by three wickets in the second one-day international here yesterday.
Tailender Bhuvneshwar Kumar extended tremendous support to Dhoni and ended up with an unbeaten 53 off 80 balls.
Earlier, the Indian bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to 236 for 8. Indian team would rather be disappointed as they had Lanka on the mat at 121 for 5 before a 91-run stand between Milinda Siriwardana (58) and experienced Chamara Kapugedera (40) enabled the home team reach a semblance of respectability.
This was after Kohli won his fifth consecutive toss on this tour and opted to field. Put into bat, Niroshan Dickwella (31) and Danushka Gunathilaka (19) made a quick start to their innings. India handed the new ball to Bhuvneshwar Kumar (0-53) and Jasprit Bumrah (4-43). The two openers showed aggressive intent. Bumrah was taken for a few runs in his initial spell as Dickwella hit two sixes off him.
Sri Lanka's 50-mark came up in the 9th over but Bumrah had got his revenge when he had Dickwella caught at short midwicket in the eighth over. Kusal Mendis (19) then joined Gunathilaka and put on 29 runs for the 2nd wicket before the latter was stumped off Yuzvendra Chahal (2-43) in the 15th over.
It was Dhoni's 99th stumping in ODI cricket, equalling Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara's record albeit in fewer games.
Skipper Upul Tharanga (9) then edged a simple outswinger from Hardik Pandya (1-24) to slip in the 16th over.
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