India and Sri Lanka are locked in a three-match Twenty20 International series. Having lost the opening T20I, Lanka was looking to bounce back by winning the second game, which was delayed by a day due to a COVID case in the Indian camp.
It was a resilient batting performance from Sri Lanka, allowing it to secure a four-wicket win over India in the second Twenty20 International at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday. Proactive efforts from wicketkeeper-batsman Minod Bhanuka (36) and all-rounder Dhananjaya de Silva (40*) allowed Lanka to level the three-match series 1-1.
Winning the toss, Lanka elected to bowl, as skipper Dasun Shanaka made a couple of changes. As for India, Dhawan was forced to make five changes, bringing in four debutants due to a few players being isolated after one of the Indian players tested COVID positive.
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The Indian openers were off to a decent start. Dhawan and Ruturaj Gaikwad put up a 49-run opening stand before the latter fell for 21 to medium-pacer Shanaka in the seventh over.
OUT! Gaikwad's debut stay at the crease comes to an end!
Devdutt Padikkal walks in 🏟️
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It was followed by a 37-run stand between skipper and Devdutt Padikkal until Dananjaya knocked over Dhawan in the 13th over. The pitch seemingly was getting slower, as the incoming batsmen failed to connect the ball properly.
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Akila Dananjaya gets the big wicket of Shikhar Dhawan for 40
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At 99, Padikkal too was cleaned up by spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for 29 in a similar fashion in the 16th over. Just five runs later, wicketkeeper-batsman Sanju Samson followed back for just seven after being bowled over by Dananjaya again.
With India struggling to near the par total, the pair of Nitish Rana and Bhuvneshwar Kumar looked to accelerate before the former fell for a mere nine to pacer Dushmantha Chameera in the final over. The side managed to finish at 132/5.
As for the Lankans, they utilised eight bowlers, with Dananjaya being the most effective. However, debutant spinner Ramesh Mendis was the most economical of all.
In reply, Lanka was off to a shaky start, losing Avishka Fernando for 11 to seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the third over, with just 12 on the board. It was followed by a 27-run stand between Bhanuka and Sadeera Samarawickrama before the latter was cleaned up by mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy for eight in the seventh over.
Rahul Chahar's presence of mind gets India a wicket off Bhuvi's bowling ☝🏽
Avishka Fernando has to depart for 11
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OUT! BAMBOOZLED BY VARUN! 🔥
Sadeera fails to pick it and goes for 8 ☝🏽
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The Lankans struggled to score freely, as the pitch kept getting slow but kept the scoreboard ticking by dealing in singles/doubles/triples. Shanaka could not do much, as at 55, he departed for just three after being stumped off chinaman Kuldeep Yadav in the tenth over, while 11 runs later, the same man got rid of the dangerous-looking Bhanuka in the 12th over.
There were hardly enough partnerships being built, as at 94, Hasaranga was dismissed for 15 by spinner Rahul Chahar in the 15th over, while 11 runs later, Mendis departed for a mere couple to debutant pacer Chetan Sakariya in the 18th. However, the pair of de Silva and Chamika Karunaratne decided to take things until the end.
Wanindu Hasaranga upholds the Spirit of the Game! 👏🏽
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While Karunaratne was watchful and gave the strike to his partner, de Silva put his experience into use, as the 19th over six off Bhuvneshwar made things easier for them. At the same time, a couple of wides from Sakariya sealed the deal for the host.
Dhananjaya de Silva hits the winning run to level the series! 🔥
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For India, just five bowlers were utilised, Kuldeep grabbing the most attention with a two-for. Meanwhile, Chakravarthy was noteworthy with his economy.
Brief scores: India 132/5 (Dhawan- 40; Dananjaya- 2/29) lost to Sri Lanka 133/6 in 19.4 overs (Bhanuka- 36, de Silva- 40*; Kuldeep- 2/30) by four wickets.
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