Sri Lanka beat India by four wickets in Colombo to level the three-match T20I series 1-1 on Wednesday. Dhananjaya de Silva was the star in Sri Lanka's win and was also the Player of the Match for his 40 not out off 34 balls. The hosts took the game to the last over to chase down a target of 133 runs. This was a game dominated by spinners from both sides. Sri Lanka's Akila Dhananjaya and Wanindu Hasaranga didn't let the Indian batters get a big score and later Indian spinners dominated most parts of Sri Lanka's chase. For India, Kuldeep Yadav was the top wicket-taker with two wickets while the rest got one wicket apiece. Varun Chakravarthy was the most economical bowler in the entire match as he gave just 18 runs in his 4 overs and took a one wicket. The two teams will now face off on Thursday at the same venue for the third and final T20I.
2nd T20I Highlights, Sri Lanka vs India From R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
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Right then. 133 needed for Sri Lanka to win. This is set up nicely for the hosts, as they will look to come out and level the series. The deck is slightly on the slower side and the Men in Blue have a good variety in their bowling attack. Should be an interesting chase. Join us for the same shortly.
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Devdutt Padikkal is in for a chat! He says that the pitch was sticky. Says that they wanted to bat till the end and they did it. Says that they have put a comfortable total on the board and they have the bowlers to do it. Ends by saying it is exciting to make the debut.
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It was spin that did the majority of the damage for the Lankans. Don't get us wrong, all of their bowlers were good, but their spinners just made life tough for the Indians. Akila Dananjaya was expensive in his very first over, but came back very nicely, finishing with the wickets of dangermen, Dhawan and Samson. Wanindu Hasaranga, again, impressed one and all, finishing with figures of 4-0-30-1, with his last over, being slightly expensive. Dushmantha Chameera was their premier pace bowler, as he took Rana's wicket, in his last over, but was very miserly as well. Shanaka was decent in his short spell of two overs.
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A superb bowling performance from the hosts has seen them restrict India to a decent score, in 132. This deck was slightly on the slower side, and the spinners of the Islanders used the game to good effect and have ended the first innings, on top. The Men in Blue looked solid at the start, with Dhawan and Gaikwad. They played slowly but kept the scorecard jogging. Once Gaikwad fell, scoring runs became slightly harder. Dhawan and Padikkal raised a good stand, but that too, did not last for long. Padikkal and Samson went back one after the other. Rana and Kumar tried hard to get that final flourish, but never found it and have finished their innings on a slightly sub-par total.
- 19.61Dushmantha Chameera to Navdeep Saini
Just a single to end then! On off, a low full toss, it is hit to mid off for one. So no boundaries in the last over! INDIA END WITH 132!
- 19.51Dushmantha Chameera to Bhuvneshwar Kumar
On off, fuller again, this is pushed to covers for one.
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Navdeep Saini walks out to bat now.
- 19.4WDushmantha Chameera to Nitish Rana
OUT! CAUGHT! That is brilliant deception! Done in completely by the slower one. It is full and outside off, Rana initially looks to go over covers but then realizes he is way too early in the shot. He tries to stop but ends up chipping it to the man at covers.
- 19.31Dushmantha Chameera to Bhuvneshwar Kumar
BYE! Good from Rana. This is short again, Kumar looks to play the upper cut again but misses. Rana knows he has to get back on strike and steals a bye.
- 19.20Dushmantha Chameera to Bhuvneshwar Kumar
A short one, Kumar looks to upper cut it but misses.