India vs Sri Lanka 2017, 2nd T20I: Kuldeep Yadav's three-wicket over is SK Turning Point of the match
In what was a must-win match for them to keep the series alive, Sri Lanka's fortunes began to take a turn for the worse when their captain Thisara Perara surprisingly chose to bowl first on a flat track at the Holkar Stadium in Indore.
Riding high on their skipper Rohit Sharma's record-breaking century as well as KL Rahul's dynamic knock, India obliterated Sri Lanka's feeble bowling attack and notched the joint-second highest total in the history of T20I cricket.
Chasing a mammoth 261, Sri Lanka displayed admirable resolve through a rapid partnership between Upul Tharanga and Kusal Perera. However, Yuzvendra Chahal separated the duo by getting rid of Tharanga. Capitalising on the window of opportunity, Kuldeep Yadav effectively sealed the match for India by picking up three wickets in the 15th over of the innings.
Let us take a look at how Kuldeep's wicket-taking spree paved the way for India to saunter to a 88-run victory and take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the 3-match series.
Chahal breaks a dangerous partnership
With the pitch still quite good for batting, Sri Lanka started their run-chase on a promising note. Wicket-keeper batsman Niroshan Dickwella hammered a couple of fours and a massive six before falling prey to Jaydev Unadkat's slower delivery.
Contrary to expectations that they would roll over without putting up a fight, the visitors were shored up by a purposeful stand between Tharanga and Kusal Perera. Notwithstanding the gargantuan required run-rate, the duo kept targeting the boundary on a regular basis to keep their team in the contest. Perera, in particular, showcased his impressive ball-striking skills by clearing the fence with ease.
At the end of 13 overs, Sri Lanka reached a fairly decent position of 142/1. With nine wickets at hand, the stage was set for some relentless fireworks. However, Chahal rose to the occasion to provide a vital breakthrough for India. Tharanga departed for 47 after a mistimed slog settled in the safe hands of the leg-spinner.
Kuldeep's three-wicket over wrecks Sri Lanka
Having lost his batting partner, Kusal Perera was in no mood to give up just yet. He plundered a boundary and a six as if to reiterate Sri Lanka's fight. However, the 15th over of the visitors' innings all but sealed the game for India.
Kuldeep implemented a precisely thought-out plan to send back Thisara Perera for a first-ball duck. Sensing that the surface was not offering anything to him, the chinaman exponent imparted generous flight and tossed the ball outside the left-hander's hitting arc. An almighty heave went only as far as Hardik Pandya who sprinted like a hare to get underneath the catch.
After sending down a wide, Kuldeep got the prized wicket of Kusal Perera in the second legal delivery of the over. Another slower delivery veering away from the southpaw's target zone resulted in an inadequate shot from the well-set batsman.
In the penultimate ball of the game-changing over, Kuldeep helped India see the back of Asela Gunaratne before the aggressive right-hander could make an impact on the proceedings. The 31-year old departed for a golden duck to aggravate Sri Lanka's woes.
India wrap-up series with clinical triumph
With just five overs left in the innings, Sri Lanka required an improbable 99 runs even as the hosts were right into the lower half of their batting lineup. Seizing the momentum generated by the previous over, Chahal got in on the act as well.
The leg-spinner scythed through the Sri Lankan lower-order with a three-wicket over of his own. The likes of Chaturanga de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Akila Dananjaya all perished one by one. As Pandya castled Dushmantha Chameera, India cruised to a comfortable 88-run triumph and wrapped up the series with one game left.
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Rohit and Rahul's blazing knocks may have helped India register their highest-ever team total in T20Is. But it was the two wrist-spinners who finished off Sri Lanka with their penchant for picking wickets in heaps. Even though they gave away a combined 104 runs from their collective tally of eight overs, Kuldeep and Chahal obtained seven wickets between them to set-up a clinical victory for the hosts.