India are a step away from winning the five-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka after the hosts won the second ODI by six wickets in Ahmedabad yesterday.
Chasing 275 for victory, India reached the target with six wickets in hand and more than five overs to spare as Ambati Rayudu struck his maiden ODI hundred in his 21st match. Rayudu was unbeaten on 121 from 118 balls, his undefeated knock featuring 10 boundaries and four sixes.
Rayudu was ably supported by opener Shikhar Dhawan, who made 79 off 80 balls.
Earlier, skipper Angelo Mathews struck a fighting fifty to lift a struggling Sri Lanka to 274 for eight. Electing to bat, the visitors lost early wickets but Mathews’ unbeaten 92 - his innings laced with 10 fours and a six - and Kumar Sangakkara’s valiant 61 took the side to respectability. The duo stitched a crucial 90-run fourth-wicket partnership after Sri Lanka were struggling at 64 for three.
With the visitors being reduced to 220 for eight in the 44th over, Mathews got support from number-ten batsman Dhammika Prasad and the duo stitched a valuable 54-run unbeaten partnership to give the islanders the necessary push in the end.
Indian pace spearhead Umesh Yadav picked up two wickets.
