COLOMBO: Deepak Chahar's excellent all-round performance with both bat and ball helped the visitors take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series.

With India chasing a target of 276, openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan went all guns blazing, scoring 26 runs in the first two overs. 

The stand, however, did not last long as the introduction of spin resulted in Shaw's early dismissal on 13, as Wanindu Hasaranga celebrated a big scalp.

Ishan Kishan quickly followed suit, attempting a booming drive against Kasun Rajitha but only inside-edging the ball onto the stumps. It was now up to India's two most experienced campaigners – skipper Dhawan and Manish Pandey – to guide the visitors through troubled waters.

Dhawan, on the other hand, was unable to replicate his heroics from the first match, as he was caught in front of his stumps by Hasaranga on 29.

Pandey and Suryakumar Yadav then put on a 50-run stand, using an aggressive approach to counter-attack the Lankan bowlers. 

Pandey, on the other hand, was unlucky to be run-out on the non-striker's end as Dasun Shanaka managed to get his fingers on the ball before it hit the stumps from a Suryakumar drive, while he was caught off guard outside his crease.

Hardik Pandya was then dismissed for a duck, leaving India with their backs to the wall. Suryakumar and Krunal Pandya's 44-run stand kept the visitors in the game until the former was dismissed after reaching his half-century.

After getting off to a good start, Pandya was the next batsman to be dismissed on 35. With seven wickets back in the shed, Sri Lanka appeared to be on the verge of ending a nine-match losing streak against India at home.

Deepak Chahar then took charge, unleashing a flurry of strokes to put the pressure back on the Lankans. On the other end, he was ably supported by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who played the anchor role to perfection. 

Chahar reached his first ODI half-century as the match hung in the balance.

As the Sri Lankan bowlers were taken aback by India's fightback, Chahar scored an unbeaten 69 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar contributed with a useful 19*. With five deliveries to go, India sealed a three-wicket victory and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka got off to a solid, if not spectacular start, thanks to a 77-run partnership between openers Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka. 

However, they began to lose wickets in quick succession after Yuzvendra Chahal's twin-strike in the 14th overturned the match on its shoulders.

Charith Asalanka's knock injected much-needed momentum into the Lankan innings, which was soon stuttering around at 134/4. His 65 off 68 deliveries, combined with Chamika Karunanratne's quick-fire 33-ball 44, helped the hosts post a competitive total of 275/9.

Avishka Fernando (50) and Dhananjaya de Silva (32) also contributed significantly to the hosts. Yuzvendra Chahal was the pick of the Indian bowlers, with figures of 3/50 in his 10 overs.

Edited - SportsAction / Inputs - Agency