Cuttack: Skipper Ajay Reddy (155 n o) produced a scintillating batting display along another brilliant century from lower-order batsman Anil Gariya (112 n o) as India defeated Sri Lanka by 113 runs to take a unassailable 2-0 lead and pocket the three-match ODI series for visually-impaired at the Nimpur Cricket ground here, Thursday.
Batting first, India put on a mammoth 464 runs for the loss of six wickets in 40 overs. Beside Anil and Ajay, Odisha lad Lingaraj Routray (65) and Sunil Ramesh (58) also played delightful half centuries.
India started on a cautious note as openers Lingaraj and R Venkateshwara (20) played some delightful shots all round the park. Though Venkateshwara, D Rao (11) and J MD (six) perished without troubling much to the scorers, Lingaraj and Ajay put together a 88-run fourth wicket partnership to steady the ship.
However, after Lingaraj was run out, Ajay paired with Anil as the duo put together 206 runs for the unbeaten seventh wicket stand to take the score past 450-run mark. For Sri Lanka, Suranga Sampath (3/67) was the pick of the bowlers.
In reply, the Sri Lankan were restricted at 351 runs for the loss of eight wickets despite Chandana Desapriya (101) and Sahana Kumara’s (62) valiant knocks. Deepak Mallick (2/46) bowled well for the hosts. The third and final ODI will played Saturday in Kolkata.
Brief scores: India 464/6 (Ajay Reddy 155 n o, Anil Gariya 112 n o, Linagaraj Routray 65, Sunil Ramesh 58; Suranga Sampath 3/67) beat Sri Lanka 351/8 (Chandana Desapriya 101, Sahana Kumara 62; Deepak Mallick 2/46) by 113 runs.
