Sri Lanka level the series
Sri Lanka registered a 16-run win over India at Pune on Thursday. India captain Hardik Pandya won the coin toss and elected to bowl first.
After losing the toss, Sri Lanka had a wonderful opening partnership between Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka. Both added 80 runs for the first wicket until Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 52 runs. After the solid start, Sri Lanka lost three wickets quickly. Pathum Nissanka made 33 runs, and Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Dhananjaya de Silva got out cheaply. However, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka rebuilt the innings and made a 28-run partnership for the fifth wicket. Charith Asalanka made 37 runs in 19 balls and set the momentum. Both Charith Asalanka and Wanindu Hasaranga were dismissed in two consecutive balls. Following that, Chamika Karunarathne and skipper Dasun Shanaka put on an unbroken 68-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Dasun Shanaka was the star with the bat and scored an unbeaten 56 runs in 22 balls. Sri Lanka eventually scores 206 runs in 20 overs for the loss of six wickets.
In reply, India made 190 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. India hasn’t had a good start, and they lost their top order cheaply. India was struggling with 57 at one point after losing 5 wickets in 9.1 overs. After that, Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel made a 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket and put the pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Suryakumar Yadav scored 51 runs. After the dismissal of Yadav, Shivam Mavi joined with Axar Patel and kept hope alive for India. Both scored 41 runs for the seventh wicket before Axar Patel was caught for 65 runs in the final over. Shivam Mavi scored 26 runs. Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka bowled a brilliant final over, taking 2 wickets for just 4 runs.
