India defeats Sri Lanka in second ODI, level series 1-1

India won the second One Day International by three wickets on Wednesday to level the five-match series 1-1 after dismissing Sri Lanka for its lowest home score against the visitors.

India won the toss and bowled Sri Lanka out for only 142 in 38.3 overs. After collapsing to 75-5, India recovered with a 60-run sixth-wicket stand between captain Mahendra Dhoni (39) and Subramaniam Badrinath (27 not out).

Sri Lanka's previous lowest score against India at home was 181. It was 44-6 at one stage before a resolute 74-run partnership between lower-order Thilan Thushara (44) and Nuwan Kulasekara (25).

India's seam bowlers responded well to Dhoni's call to field first after winning the toss in the morning, ripping apart the Sri Lankan top order.

Left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan was the main performer among the Indian bowlers with 4-21, including the prize wickets of Kumar Sangakkara (2), Mahela Jayawardena (2), Chamara Kapugedera (0) and Sanath Jayasuriya (13).Praveen Kumar provided valuable support with 3-34.

India started its reply shakily, losing two wickets to fast bowler Kulasekara in the first five overs. Asked to open the innings, Irfan Pathan was caught by wicketkeeper Sangakkara for five runs with the total on eight. No.3 Suresh Raina (1) departed at 16, trapped lbw to Kulasekara. The dismissal brought opener Virat Kohli and Yuvraj Singh together and they added 36 runs for the third wicket before spinner Ajantha Mendis struck, trapping Yuvraj lbw for 20 runs.

Sri Lanka appeared to get back into the match with a double blow in the 20th over from left-arm seamer Thushara. He first had Kohli caught by Kapugedera at short mid-wicket and two balls later trapped Rohit Sharma (0) lbw to leave India five down for 75.

Later Dhoni and Badrinath combined for a responsible 60-run partnership for the sixth wicket in 96 balls. Dhoni was bowled by paceman Dilhara Fernando but had effectively ensured victory for his team. Dhoni, who admitted misreading the pitch in the first match, sent the hosts to bat first on a wicket that offered movement to the seam bowlers.

Sri Lankans had very little to celebrate with only two of their specialist batsmen reaching double figures. The third ODI is schedule to take place on Sunday August 24 in Colombo.