IND vs SL, 2nd T20I: Allround Sri Lanka outplay magical Axar Patel in nail-biter

Wanindu Hasaranga after Deepak Hooda's wicket

Dasun Shanaka hit the fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka. Kasun Rajitha and Dilshan Madushanka bowled their hearts out up-front. The home team lost five wickets inside the first 10 overs. 

Every odd was against India in the chase of 207 runs. However, then came drinks and Axar Patel to the middle, which changed the equation of the game upside down.

The Men in Blue lost their fifth man at 57-5 on the first delivery of the tenth over. At that stage, India needed a Genie, and they got him in the form of Axar.

After bowling a sensational spell of 2 for 24 in his four, when the rest of the bowlers leaked runs like a broken tap - the Gujarat allrounder came out with a magic ward and turned the tables around. 

Genie needed his Aladdin at the other end and he got his mate in Suryakumar Yadav. Axar played a gung-ho innings, while SKY was asked to bat for more calmly. 

However, the latter turned the switch watching his partner hitting three sixes off three deliveries to Wanindu Hasaranga. 

Although when things were heading in India's court, Surya miscued a slower one to long-on. Then Shivam Mavi, using his agricultural slogging, gave aid to the Indian Genie, but Axar was done in the last over with 18 runs to go.

Shanaka's storm broke the Indian forte

Earlier in the day, the Lankan skipper broke the run bank in the death overs and registered the quickest half-century for his nation. Not only his knock helped the Asian Champions hit their highest T20 score against India in 13 years, but Shanaka surpassed Mahela Jayawardene (21) and Kumar Sangakkara (21) in the elite list of quickest 50 for the Islanders.

The Lankans clinched 93 runs in the last six overs of their innings. The pace-trio of Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik and Mavi was hit in all corners of the stadium. 

On a day when the young seamers gave away runs at 13.80 RPO, the tweakers were as miser as it gets. Genie Axar was well partnered by Yuzvendra Chahal (1/30) as they controlled the run-flow in the middle overs. 

However, nothing went well before and after the Indian spin-twins bowled, as against the new-ball it was the daunting knock of Kusal Mendis (52 off 31) that gave a flyer to the visitors. 

Apart from the magnificent play from Shanaka and Mendis, Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka scored handy thirties in the first half as well.

Series hang in balance

Despite Axar's heroics and useful contributions from Surya and Mavi, the visitors have levelled the series 1-1. Now, both the teams will have come out all guns blazing on Saturday to win the Rajkot fixture and bag the silverware. 

Brief Score:

Sri Lanka - 206/6 (20 overs)
Dasun Shanaka - 56* (22), Kusal Mendis - 52 (31)
Axar Patel - 2/24 (4), Yuzvendra Chahal - 1/30 (4)

India - 190/8 (20 overs)
Axar Patel - 65 (31), Suryakumar Yadav - 51 (36)
Kasun Rajitha - 2/22 (4), Dilshan Madushanka - 2/45 (4)

Result: Sri Lanka won by 16 runs.

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