India look to seal the T20I series in Dharamsala

Overview

India vs Sri Lanka, second T20I

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala

February 25, 7:00 PM local

The three-match T20I series between India and Sri Lanka kicked off with the home team taking a 1-0 lead after a comfortable 62-run triumph in the first game in Lucknow.

Ishan Kishan’s 89 off 56 balls along with a 57 from Shreyas Iyer helped India set a big target of 200 for the Sri Lankan batters.

India had a brilliant opening partnership of 111 runs between Kishan and captain Rohit Sharma (44) before Iyer took the reins ensuring his team had a commanding total on the board.

The Sri Lanka batters never seemed like they were in control of the chase after losing opener Pathum Nissanka (0) off the first ball of the innings. They continued to lose wickets at regular intervals throughout the innings, thanks to some disciplined bowling display by the Indian bowlers.

The hosts will look to maintain their all-round performance heading into the second T20I, with several players looking to stake a claim for a playing XI spot with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2022 just a few months away.

The visitors on the other hand would be hoping for a complete reset with both the bat and ball in their quest to keep the series alive.

One bright spot for Sri Lanka was the gritty inning by Charith Asalanka who scored an unbeaten 53 off 47 deliveries helping his team cross the third-digit mark. Dushmantha Chameera also had a late cameo with the quick 24* (14) to finish the innings.

Remember the last time

After winning the toss in the first ODI at Lucknow, the visitors chose to bowl first. India made 199 runs in their allotted 20 overs with Ishan Kishan top-scoring much to the delight of the home fans, before Shreyas Iyer adding the finishing touches with a wonderful innings.

Chasing the total, Sri Lanka were restricted to 36/3 at the end of the seventh over and kept losing wickets regularly to derail their innings.

What they said

Rohit Sharma (India captain): “When you play a kind of support that we play, these things [dips in form] are bound to happen. I know the mindset and ability Ishan has and it was very very pleasing to watch him bat today. He constructed the innings after six overs, that was more pleasing. It was not about coming and hitting the ball, it was also about finding the gaps. We are dropping a few catches, which is not expected at this level. I guess our fielding coach has some work to do. We want to be the best fielding side in Australia.”

Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan captain): “We were really poor in all three departments. They batted beautifully and read the conditions really well. We are without our main spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana and the new guys are not very experienced. Hopefully, Asalanka carries his form throughout the series.”