Watch: Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis faces injury scare after twisting ankle in second ODI against India
Published - 04 Aug 2024, 03:25 PM | Updated - 24 Aug 2024, 07:09 AM
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Sri Lanka cricket team wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis had an injury scare during the seventh over of the ongoing second ODI of the ongoing three-match series against India at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, August 4.
Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj delivered a short ball to Mendis, who attempted a pull shot but ended up limping in pain in the 7th over of Sri Lanka's innings in the ongoing second ODI against Team India in Colombo. Mendis twisted his left ankle while playing the shot, mistiming the pull and hitting it to mid-on.
Kusal Mendis clutches his ankle during the second ODI against India
The Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter immediately clutches his ankle, indicating he might have slipped while playing the stroke. After a brief check-up from the physio, Mendis was cleared to continue.
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After the blow, Siraj delivered a steaming 140 kph bouncer to Mendis, who ducked out of the way. The ball sailed past the Indian wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul, who jumped high but couldn't reach it, as Mendis got the confidence by sending the ball for four.
Kusal Mendis waste the lifeline in the crucial Colombo ODI against India
The Mendis drama just did not end there, as he continued to tackle Indian bowlers smartly in the ongoing second ODI in Colombo. Actually, the Sri Lankan wicketkeeper got the lifeline in the 12th over of the match against India when he was facing Team India’s spin all-rounder Axar Patel.
Axar bowled a flighted delivery outside off stump to Mendis, who missed the ball by a wide margin. Umpire Paul Reiffel took a long time to signal out, leaving the Sri Lankan star stunned. Even Axar appeared puzzled, as he hadn’t heard any edge, while KL Rahul was more disappointed than excited as the keeper tossed the ball up in frustration.
Mendis opted for a review, which overturned the umpire’s call as the ball had turned away without making contact with the bat. Then, Mendis and the opener, Avishka Fernando, started attacking the Indian bowlers, but Washington Sundar managed to give the Men in Blue the much-needed breakthrough in the 17th over of Sri Lanka’s innings in the ongoing second ODI.
Sundar dismissed Fernando with a caught-and-bowled effort. Fernando tried to play a full delivery on the leg side for a single, but closed the bat face too early. This mistake allowed Sundar to easily catch the ball. Fernando and Mendis’ promising 74-run partnership was broken before the drinks break.
Colombo scripts history by hosting the second ODI between Sri Lanka and India
Fernando returned back to the pavilion after making 40 runs off 62 balls, laced with 5 boundaries followed by Mendis (30). Notably, Kamindu Mendis and Jeffrey Vandersay are playing in the second ODI against India as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga and Mohamed Shiraz. Hasaranga has been ruled out of the ongoing ODI series with a hamstring injury.
Whereas Mendis preferred over Shiraz because of his spin bowling along with his batting expertise to revive their hopes in the ODI series against India. On the other hand, the second ODI between Sri Lanka and India marked the 150th ODI hosted at Colombo's R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium, making it the fifth venue to reach this milestone.
The other venues are Sharjah (249 ODIs), Harare Sports Club (182), Sydney Cricket Ground (161), and Melbourne Cricket Ground (151), which have hosted 150 or more ODI matches. Additionally, 40 of these 150 matches have been played in Colombo between Sri Lanka and India, making it the venue with the highest number of ODIs between these two teams.
