India canter home in style
Indore: India crushed Sri Lanka by seven wickets to go 1-0 up in the three game T20I series here Tuesday. After KL Rahul and Sikhar Dhawan (32, 29b, 2×4) had given the hosts a fluent opening start of 71 runs, the formalities were completed by Shreyas Iyer (34, 26b, 3×4, 1×6) and Virat Kohli (30 not out, 17b, 1×4, 2×6) completed the formalities as India scored 144 for three with 15 balls still to spare. The first game was washed out in Guwahati.
Details to follow soon
India lose Rahul but runs continue to flow
Indore: KL Rahul was dismissed for brisk innings of 45 (32b, 6×4) but India were still in control of the game after reaching 77 for one at the end of 10 overs. Interestingly skipper Virat Kohli did not come into bat at his usual No.3 position but promoted Shreyas Iyer (4 batting) ahead of him. India’s run rate dipped a bit with Shikhar Dhawan (26 off 25b) struggling in the middle.
KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan give India brisk start
Indore: Chasing a victory target of 143 runs in 20 overs, Indian openers KL Rahul (35 batting with six fours) and Shikhar Dhawan (13 batting) started briskly. At the end of the first five overs, the hosts reached 49 without loss. Much was expected of Sri Lankan skipper Lasith Malinga, but he went for 20 runs in his first two overs with Rahul hitting him for three boundaries. Rahul, so far has looked in very good touch while Dhawan, who is battling for form has been the more circumspect of the two.
Sri Lanka collapse dramatically, finish on 142 for 9
Indore: After being at 104 for five in the 15th over, Sri Lanka collapsed dramatically to end at 142 for nine after the end of their allotted quota of 20 overs. They lost four wickets for the addition of just 38 runs in five overs, a period when most teams usually accelerate. Shardul Thakur (3/23) was the destroyer-in-chief while Jasprit Bumrah (1/32) also got his name in the wickets’ column. The other wicket-takers were Navdeep Saini (2/18), Kuldeep Yadav (2/38) and Washington Sundar (1/29)
Sri Lanka cross 100, but lose five wickets
Indore: Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets and their run rate hovered just around the seven per over mark as they reached 104 for the loss of five wickets after the end of the fifth over. The three wickets to fall between the 10th and 15th overs were that of Kushal Perera (34, 28b, 3×6), Oshada Fernando (10) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (9). While Kuldeep Yadav claimed two of the three wickets to fall, the other one was picked up by Navdeep Saini.
Sri Lanka lose second wicket
Indore: Sri Lanka lost the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka (20, 21b, 3×4) who was clean bowled by pacer Navdeep Saini as they reached 70 for two after the end of 10 overs. Kushal Perera (16 batting) and Oshada Fernando (3 batting) were at the crease looking to increase the tempo in the last 10 overs of their innings
Sri Lanka start fluently, but lose Avishka Fernando
Indore: Avishka Fernando (22, 16b, 5×4) and Danushka Gunathialaka (12 batting) gave Sri Lanka a fluent start after being put into bat before the former fell to off-spinner Washington Sundar. The visitors are 39 for one at the end of five years. Jasprit Bumrah, on his return to international cricket conceded 16 runs in his first two overs.
India win toss, elect to field
Indore: Hosts India won the toss and will field in the second T20 international against Sri Lanka here Tuesday at the Holkar Stadium.
The two teams:
India: KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah and Navdeep Saini
Sri Lanka: Fernando, Gunathilaka, Kusal Perera, Oshada, Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya, Shanaka, Udana, Hasaranga, Kumara and Malinga
Keen contest expected at Indore T20I game
Indore: With the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka being washed out at Guwahati, the attention has shifted to the Holkar Stadium here. The ground is expected to be fully-packed and those who are keen to watch it on television can do so on the various channels of Star Sports. It is expected to be a humdinger as Sri Lanka will aim to end their barren run against India. They have not won a bilateral series against the Men in Blue in more than a decade.
Match Live 7.00pm onwards on Star Sports channels.
Captains: Virat Kohli (India); Lasith Malinga (Sri Lanka)
Agencies
