CT 2017: Match 8, IND v SL – 5 Game Changing Moments

The eighth match of the Champions Trophy between India and Sri Lanka followed the trend of the previous match where the underdogs caused an upset by beating a superior team. India were the firm favourites to win the match but ended up losing the match by 7 wickets, opening up the entire Group B. After winning the toss Angelo Matthews had no hesitation to take the field first.

Indians carried on their form from their game against their arch rivals to put a daunting total of 321 in front of a questionable Sri Lankan batting lineup, thanks to contributions from Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. However, Sri Lanka came out all guns blazing especially with the counter-attacking partnership of Mendis and Gunathilaka.

The Indian bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the duo, which gave confidence to the batsmen in the lower order to continue the onslaught. In the end, Sri Lanka was a bit too hot for Kohli’s men as the former went on to win by 7 wickets to complete a historic run chase. Let us look at the five possible game-changing moments which might have affected the outcome of the match.

1. Dhawan-Rohit partnership

Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma put on a mammoth partnership up front to make a strong statement in front of the Sri Lankans with their partnership of 138 runs at a brisk pace. Rohit scored a magnificent knock of 78 off just 79 balls which put the Lions on the back foot. Meanwhile, Shikhar Dhawan continued his dream run in the Champions Trophy by bringing up his 10th ODI ton and the third in tournament history. He scored 125 in just 128 deliveries which contained 15 boundaries and a six.

2. Dhoni’s onslaught

Dhoni’s innings, along with the cameo from Kedar Jadhav, was largely responsible for taking the score of India towards a monumental total of 321. His 63 off just 52 balls came at a strike rate of 121.5, hitting seven sixes and two maximums in the process. With those two maximums, Dhoni topped the list for the most number of sixes by an Indian outside home. Jadhav quickfire knock of 25 off just 13 balls at a strike rate of 192, made the difference in the end. This was the game-changing moment in the end for the Indians.

3. Mendis-Gunathika reply

After losing explosive Dickwella, not many gave chance to the Sri Lankans with Gunathilaka and Mendis in the middle. But their counter-attacking partnership completely deflated the confidence of the Indian bowlers. They put on a match-winning 159 runs at lightning pace to take the game away from the Indians.

Kusal Mendis played a blinder of an innings for 89 off just 93 balls at a strike rate of 96, smashing a whopping eleven boundaries and maximum. Dhanushka Gunathilaka was instrumental in keeping the required below the par with his blitzkrieg of 76 runs off just 72 balls. He scored at an astounding strike rate of 105, smashing 7 fours and two sixes.

4. Run-outs of well-set batsmen

The hapless Indian bowlers had no answer to the stroke play from Gunathilaka and Mendis as no plans against them worked for the Indians. Not surprisingly, it was two brilliant run-outs from the Indians which ended their match-winning partnership. Umesh Yadav and MS Dhoni’s electric fielding and keeping took Gunathilaka out of the equation. Successively, it was Bhuvi’s turn to see the back of Mendis, due to some sharp work from the bowlers. The two wickets caused a change in momentum for the Indian side.

5. Finishing efforts from Sri Lanka

Overall, it was the finishing efforts from Sri Lanka at the death which made the impact in the game, both with the bat and the ball. When Dhoni and co. were looking at a target of 340-350 at one point of time, bowling efforts from Thisara Perera and Malinga helped Sri Lanka contain the mighty Indian attack to a total of 321.

With the bat, it was the likes of Matthews, Gunaratne and Kusal Perera, who did the job from the underdogs in the match. Matthews played a captain’s knock for his unbeaten 52 off just 45 balls, whereas Gunaratne and Perera scored 34 and 47 respectively to create havoc in the Indian dressing room.