Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka showered accolades on spinner Jeffrey Vandersay, whose exceptional performance secured a 32-run victory for the hosts in the second ODI against India.
On a spinner-friendly pitch, Vandersay, filling in for injured star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, exploited the conditions masterfully, derailing India’s strong start in their chase of 241.
Sri Lanka managed to post 240/9 on the board, largely thanks to crucial contributions from tailenders Dunith Wellalage (39) and Kamindu Mendis (40). In response, India got off to a blazing start with captain Rohit Sharma leading the charge during the powerplay. However, Vandersay’s introduction turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favor. He dismissed Rohit, who attempted a reverse sweep, and proceeded to dismantle the Indian batting lineup, claiming key wickets including those of Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Shreyas Iyer.
“I was pretty happy with the score we got on this track. I thought 240 was good enough. [On Vandersay causing selection headaches] Definitely, as a captain, this kind of problem I need to have. It was an unbelievable spell from him. When he came to bowl, they were scoring over nine,” Asalanka stated during the post-match presentation.
Vandersay’s performance ensured India could never fully recover, with Asalanka himself contributing three wickets. Vandersay’s remarkable figures of 6-33 earned him the Player of the Match award.
Reflecting on his spell, Vandersay said, “There was a lot of pressure coming into the side. I am coming out of a layoff. I had to do something, and it is easier to take credit. I want to give credit to the batters as well. They put on 240 runs, and that helped me to bowl in good areas. Hasaranga is our No. 1 spinner. I got to understand the atmosphere of the team and team balance. I have to keep pushing myself. There was assistance in the wicket. I was trying to hit the good areas. Once I got my first wicket, that built up my confidence. Fortunately, I was able to take six wickets.”
With a 1-0 lead in the series, Sri Lanka will aim to secure the series victory in the third ODI on Wednesday.
