[Watch] Shreyas Iyer executes a brilliant direct hit from the deep to send back Kamindu Mendis in 2nd IND vs SL ODI
Team India batter Shreyas Iyer chipped in with a stunning direct hit from the deep to dismiss Kamnidu Mendis in the second ODI against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4. The brilliant piece of fielding came in the final over of the first innings.
Kamindu Mendis became a handy addition to the Sri Lankan unit, coming in as a replacement along with Jeffrey Vandersay for Wanindu Hasaranga and Mohammed Shiraz, respectively. He added to the batting depth of the side, and was the joint top-scorer of the innings with 40 runs while coming into bat at No. 8.
He struck a crucial partnership with Dunith Wellalage to recover Sri Lanka's innings from 136-6. Their contributions resulted in the hosts crossing the 200-run mark with ease, and despite Wellalage's dismissal in the 47th over, Mendis remained until the final over to stretch the team's total even further.
He attempted to steal a couple of runs after mistiming a pull shot to remain on strike. Shreyas Iyer ran in from the deep, but could not get to the ball in time to claim a catch. But, he did launch a rocket throw and hit the bullseye despite only having one stump to aim at. Have a look at the exceptional piece of fielding right here:
Mendis did not expect Iyer to make the hit from that distance and thus did not attempt to make his ground.
Iyer had executed a similar direct hit to dismiss Ben Stokes in the home Test series against England
Shreyas Iyer has earned the reputation of being a gun fielder, and has often stepped up on the field, showing flashes of brilliance. Although not entirely similar to the Mendis direct hit, the batter had executed an equally brilliant run out during the second Test against England in Vizag earlier this year to dismiss opposition skipper Ben Stokes.
On that occasion, he was fielding at midwicket and only had seconds to pick up the ball and have a go at the stumps from a tight angle as Foakes and Stokes attempted a quick single.