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'Had To Do Something…' Jeffrey Vandersay After Decimating Rohit Sharma And Co In 2nd ODI

Jeffrey Vandersay celebrating an Indian wicket in the second ODI (X.com)Jeffrey Vandersay celebrating an Indian wicket in the second ODI (X.com)

Sri Lankan leg-spinner and comeback man Jeffrey Vandersay bowled his team to an emphatic victory over batting powerhouse India in the second ODI of their three-match series in Colombo. Defending 241 runs, the 34-year-old cricketer picked up six Indian wickets to bag career-best ODI figures and a ‘Player of the Match’ award.

After the match, Vandersay spoke in length about the “pressures” of making a return to the national setup, and also took this opportunity to praise Sri Lankan batters for putting up a competitive total upfront on a turning surface.

Jeffrey Vandersay exults after SL win, hails Hasaranga

While speaking during the post-match presentation ceremony, Sri Lankan spinner Jeffrey Vandersay credited batters for putting up a strong total upfront after winning the toss. Making a return to the playing XI in place of senior all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, the cricketer also stated that he wanted to make an impact in the game and explained his understanding of the team selection.

Jeffrey Vandersay said:

“There was a lot of pressure coming into the side. I was coming off a lay-off. I had to do something. It's easy to take the credit but I want to give the credit to the batters for playing the way they did and taking us to that total. It allowed me to bowl in that way. No doubt, Wanindu Hasaranga is the number one spinner. I got to understand of the selection and the team balancing and all that. I had to keep motivating myself. If that is required to play for the nation, I will do that.”

Vandersay added that he wanted to stick to the basics and merely bowled in good line and lengths. He further admitted that dismissing Indian captain and well-set opener Rohit Sharma built his confidence at the top.

“I tried to do the basics right. I had to bowl in the good lines and lengths. When I got the first wicket, it built my confidence.”

Remarkably, some of Jeffrey Vandersay’s victims included modern-day batting behemoths like Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli as well as KL Rahul.

Sri Lanka secured a 32-run win over India to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series. The two nations will now collide in the series-deciding third match on August 7 at the same Colombo-based R. Premadasa Stadium.