India defeated Sri Lanka by 38 runs in the first match of the three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka. After Suryakumar Yadav’s half-century, bowlers led by Bhubaneswar Kumar defeated Sri Lanka and took a 1-0 lead in the series. Chasing India’s 165, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 12.6 overs in 18.3 overs with fast bowlers Bhubaneswar (4 for 22) and Deepak Chahar (2 for 24). Sri Lanka lost their last seven wickets for just 36 runs. Charitable Aslanka scored 44 runs for the hosts.
India’s spinner Yuzvendra Chahal also bagged 19 wickets, while Varun Chakraborty, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya took one wicket each. Dhrumantha Chamira (2 for 24) and Vasindu Hassaranga (2 for 28) bowled well, and despite the useful innings of Suryakumar (50) and captain Shikhar Dhawan (46), India were still 164 for five. Suryakumar hit five fours and two sixes in his 34-ball knock. Dhawan shared a 62-run partnership for the third wicket. Dhawan added 51 runs for the second wicket with Sanju Samson (27). The second T20 match will be played on July 27 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
Even Sri Lanka did not start well. Hardik brought to life Minod Bhanuka with Chahar’s delivery. However, the opener caught Krunal on the cover for Suryakumar. He scored 10 runs. Opener Avishka Fernando hit two boundaries against Chahar while Dhananjay de Silva also hit a boundary on Krunal. Sri Lanka scored 44 for one wicket in Power Play. Dhawan delivered the ball to Chehal in the seventh over and this leg-spinner did not disappoint the captain and De Silva was bowled in the second delivery. He scored nine. Bhuvneshwar then took Fernando (26), who had caught Samson in the Dem Square leg, taking Sri Lanka to 50 for three.
IND vs. SL 1st T20I: Prithvi Shah disappointed in debut, dismissed without opening account
Hardik and later Varun Chakravarty hit one six for the first six of Charlott Aslanka’s innings. Hardik gave India the fourth breakthrough by bowling Asheen Bandara (09). Charith Aslanka scored his third six over the Emperor in the 14th over and then scored four. The team also completed their centuries run in the same over. Sri Lanka need 58 runs to win the last five overs. Aslanka tried to play a big shot on Chahar’s delivery and hit Prithvi Shah on a deep mid-wicket. He hit three sixes and four boundaries in his 26-ball knock. Chaher also bowled Vanindu Hasaranga (00) in the same over.
Shanaka hit a six in the 17th over of Bhuvneshwar, but Chamika shot Karunaratne (03) in the same over. Sri Lanka needed 43 runs in the last over. Shanaka Ishan Kishan stumped just three runs from the Emperor in the 18th over. Shanaka scored 16 runs. In the next over, Bhuvneshwar won India by sending Isuru Udana (01) and Dushmanta Chamira (01) to the pavilion. Earlier, India were in good form after scoring 113 for two in 14 overs, but its batsmen failed to make big shots in death overs and the team managed to score only 43 in the last five overs. Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bowl, and fast bowler Chamira caught debutant Prithvi Shah in the hands of wicketkeeper Minode in the first delivery of the match.
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Then Dhawan and Samson took over the innings. In the power play, the duo took India to 51 for one wicket. Dhawan Chamika hit Karunaratne for the first four innings and then spinner Akila Dhananjay also hit two boundaries. Samson scored 16 runs in the sixth over with a boundary and a six off Akila. Leg-spinner Hasaranga LBW Samson will make his second appearance for Sri Lanka. Samson hit 20 balls and hit two fours and a six. Suryakumar looked at him again with great enthusiasm. Usur Udana and Karunaratne also saw a delivery for the boundary after he scored two boundaries on the ball. Dhawan showed his attitude towards Akila in the 12th over with a six and a boundary and the team scored 100 runs.
IND vs. SL 1st T20I: Prithvi Shah disappointed in debut, dismissed without opening account
But, when Dharan was trying to play a big shot from Karunaratna, Ashen Bandara got the catch on a deep backward square leg. He hit four fours and a six in his 36-ball knock. Suryakumar hit a half-century off 33 balls with Hasangaran’s six but caught the boundary in an attempt to replicate the same delivery on the next delivery. Ishaan Kishan (20 not out) and Hardik Pandya had trouble playing big shots. Hardik didn’t look in rhythm and after scoring 10 off 12 balls, Chamira got the wicketkeeper’s catch on his ball. The Indian batsmen were unable to hit any boundary in the last two overs. In this match, India made Prithvi Shah and Varun Chakravarthy debut, while Sri Lanka gave Karunaratne and Charit Aslanka their debut.
