Ramiz Raja lashes out at Sri Lanka batting line-up for failing to chase 164 in opening T20

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja has lambasted Sri Lanka for their under-par performance against India in the opening T20I after they failed to chase down 165 to win the match. Raja questioned Sri Lanka’s approach and intent in a video posted on his youtube channel. Raja felt that there was zero strategies or planning from Sri Lanka as none of the set batsmen took the responsibility of tracking their team over the finishing line.

It was an impressive bowling performance from the hosts restricting India to just 164 in their 20 overs. However, the batting line-up was nowhere close to where they needed to be and despite some useful knocks from the blade of Charith Asalanka and Avishka Fernando, they folded out for 126.

“When India scored 160-odd, they would have thought of winning this because you can expect Sri Lanka to commit mistakes frequently. To chase a target like this, you needed one or two partnerships. At least one batsman should have scored 70-odd runs and you could have crossed the line. If you can’t chase 160 at home, where will you? And losing a game shatters the confidence of the team,” Ramiz Raja said.

On the back of two impressive knocks from Suryakumar Yadav and Shikhar Dhawan, India managed to score 164 runs in their allotted 20 overs. Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga were the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers bagging two wickets each.

In the second innings, Sri Lanka got off to a steady start courtesy Avishka Fernando. He played some delightful shots en route to his brief knock of 26 before his dismissal. It was Asalanka who kept Sri Lanka in the game with some lusty blow. His dismissal was the final nail in the coffin as Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals eventually losing by 38 runs.

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The Hundred: Jemimah Rodrigues notches up second half-century on the trot

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Shreyas Iyer resumes training, expected to be fit by IPL

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