India make light work of Sri Lanka to begin the T20I series on a winning note

The Indian team did not have to sweat out much as even a modest total of 165 on a huge R Premadasa Stadium’s ground turned out to be more than enough to beat the hosts, Sri Lanka, by 38 runs and register a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendar Chahal turned out to be India’s heroes with the ball as debutant Varun Chakravarthy also had a decent outing in the middle. 

For the home team, Charith Asalank, making his T20I debut was the only bright spot in batting as others surrendered meekly without even giving a fight. 

Chasing a total of 165, the Lankans didn’t really have the kind of started that was required to chase down such a total against a good enough Indian bowling attack. After losing Minod Bhanuka at the team score of 23 in the third over, they also their biggest hope Dhananjaya de Silva in the seventh over as he was bamboozled by a beauty of a googly by Chahal which clicked the top of the middle stump. Avishka Fernando followed suit becoming the first of the four scalps of vice-captain Bhuvneshwar. 

Just as it was thought that India would run away with a win here, Asalanka showed character building a 40 run partnership with Ashen Bandara, who was more of a hurdle than help to Asalanka and the team, as he ate up 19 balls to score just nine runs. Bandara’s miserable stay at the crease was ended by Hardik Pandya. 

Asalanka then got together with the skipper Dasun Shanaka to add 21 in 15 balls. And just when it seemed like the match was headed for a close finish Asalanka got out trying to hit a slower length ball for a six over the long-leg, instead, he picked out Prithvi Shaw on the boundary lines. The left-handed batter made 44 of 26 at a strike rate of 169.23.  However, his wicket spelt the end of the chase as from 11-4 the team was all out for 126, losing its last six wickets for just 15 runs. 

Bhuvneshwar ended his spell with 4-122 in just 3.3 overs and was adjudged Man of the Match for this effort of his. 

Earlier in the day, after winning the toss, it was a surprise decision by Sri Lanka to bat first. It was made mainly due to the forecast of rain, as otherwise, a spinning track would always be beneficial for the team with two leggies and an off-spinner to bat first. However, invited to bat, India had the worst possible start losing its debutant Shaw on the very first ball of the match. 

Post that, corrections were made as skipperShiukgharaDhawan had two fifty runs partnerships, first with Sanju Samson and second with Suryakumar Yadav. While the skipper himself got out for 46, Surya went on to make a half-century, his second in T20I cricket. 

A quickfire 20 from 14 balls from Ishan Kishan then helped India post 164-5 at the end of  20 overs. Dushamnatha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga picked two wickets each for Sri Lanka. 

The two teams now meet on July 27 at the same venue when India would look to seal the series while Sri Lanka trying to stretch it to the finale.