Bhuvneshwar, Chahal star in India’s clinical win

Charith Asalanka plays a shot. Pix courtesy SLC

Despite defending a modest score, the visitors made amends on the field through an outstanding bowling performance to skittle out Sri Lanka for just 126 runs in 18.3 overs. The home side of course made a promising start to their run chase through their aggressive openers Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka.But after their departure, the Sri Lankan innings fell apart against some accurate Indian bowling although Charith Asalanka threatened to take control of the situation.

The left-hander, making his debut in T20 Internationals, scored a superb cameo 44 from 26 balls inclusive of three sixes and three boundaries.

Thereafter, India tightened the screws as paceman Bhuvneshwar Kumar came back for his second spell to claim the last three Sri Lankan wickets with a splendid performance.

Earlier, India recovered from losing a wicket in the very first ball of the innings to post a competitive 164 for five after they were sent into bat.

Dushmantha Chameera had a dream start to the match when he removed the debutant opener, Prithvi Shaw, with a superb swinging delivery.

However, middle-order batsman Suryakumar Yadav launched a magnificent counterattack to complete a 34-ball 50 with the aid of two sixes and five boundaries.

Despite his assault on the bowlers, the home side had a check on the run rate while keeping the batsmen quite at the other end with Wanindu Hasaranga claiming two important wickets.

This was after Skipper Shikhar Dhavan had provided some fireworks while racing to a 36-ball 46 before he threw his wicket away having struck four boundaries and one six.