‘One man army for Sri Lanka’: Fans laud Jeffrey Vandersay’s brilliant spell in IND vs SL 2nd ODI

New Delhi: Sri Lankan leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has played a key role in leaving dent on India’s run-chase in the second ODI match played at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (August 4). As the Men in Blue seemed in a commanding position in the 240-chase powered by skipper Rohit Sharma’s brisk half-century (64 runs from 44 balls), the Sri Lankan spinner ran through their batting unit.

Vandersay was introduced into the bowling attack in the 12th over of the Indian innings and conceded just four runs. The Lankan spinner removed the Indian captain in his next over to break the 97-run opening stand. While bowling his fourth over (18th over of India innings), Vandersay got better of Shubman Gill and Shivam Dube to reduce India at 116 for 3.

The 34-year-old spinner trapped Virat Kohli in front of the stumps for leg-before-wicket while bowling a flipper. A googly was all it took for Vandersay to claim his maiden ODI five-wicket haul with Shreyas Iyer’s dismissal in the form of another lbw. He bowled KL Rahul for a second-ball duck to add his sixth wicket, becoming the 12th Sri Lanka bowler to pick six wickets in an ODI innings.

After bowling seven overs, Jeffrey Vandersay’s bowling figures read 7-0-26-6, which was instrumental in demolishing the Indian batting order. India were in tatters at 147 for 6 in the start of the 24th over before Axar Patel and Wasington Sundar forged an alliance to revive their innings.

Here are some of the reactions from Jeffrey Vandersay’s outstanding spell against India in the second ODI:

Jeffrey Vandersay now has the best ever bowling figures by a Right Arm Leg Spinner in ODIs vs India.

And he’s still not done yet.

What a dream spell👏🏻👌🏻#SLvIND 🏏 @Vandersay @ThePapareSports pic.twitter.com/xrSQJ6g5m2

— Damith Weerasinghe (@Damith1994) August 4, 2024

Jeffrey Vandersay today pic.twitter.com/hsqdTbq1xc

— 🍺 (@anubhav__tweets) August 4, 2024

Jeffrey Vandersay : Bhai thode wickets mil jate to famous ho jata

Team India:#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/S92g7jmnrr

— Raja Babu (@GaurangBhardwa1) August 4, 2024

Jeffrey Vandersay unbelievable spell. Never seen this kind of spin bowling for a long time. One man army for Sri Lanka. pic.twitter.com/8o30sVPXM0

— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) August 4, 2024

Boss, Jeffrey Vandersay made his SL debut in 2012. He has been around for long. He is a decent spinner, who averaged about 34 in ODIs and 56 in T20Is before this game. He has a standard googly but not some mystery bowler. https://t.co/aECOQGd0ul

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) August 4, 2024

Jeffrey Vandersay first spinner to achieve unique record

Jeffrey Vandersay became the first spin bowler to pick the first six wickets of a opposition batting order in the ODI format. He became only the second wrist spinner after Saqlain Mushtaq to claim a five-for versus India in the 50-over format. The former Pakistan leg-spinner mustered figures of 5 for 36 against India in Toronto in 1996.