Bowlers help Sri Lanka level T20I series
Sri Lanka levelled the three-match T20 International series 1-1 when they edged out India by four wickets in the second encounter played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.
After restricting the visitors to 132 for five, Sri Lanka cruised to their target with two balls and four wickets to spare with the deciding third match scheduled for today at the same venue.
Even then, Sri Lanka were behind the required run-rate at one stage as India looked well set to wrap up the series following another disciplined performance from their spinners.
Opener Minod Bhanuka counterattacked with a 31-ball 36 inclusive of four boundaries but his dismissal in the 12th over helped India to tighten the screws on the Sri Lankan batsmen.
With 20 runs needed from the last two overs Chamika Karunaratne hoisted Bhuvneshwar Kumar for a six and collected 12 runs to reduce the pressure.
Dhananjaya de Silva then added the finishing touches and remained unbeaten on 40 from 34 deliveries with the help of one six and one boundary.
Earlier, the Sri Lankan spinners did well to restrict the depleted Indian batting line-up to a modest 132 for five after having elected to field.
Akila Dananjaya led the way with a tantalising spell of bowling to claim the wickets of Indian Skipper Shikhar Dhawan and wicket-keeper batsman Sanju Samson.
In fact, the dismissal of Dhawan in the 13th over of the innings was really crucial as the left-hand opener was threatening to dominate the bowling having reached a near run-a-ball 40 inclusive of five boundaries.
Thereafter, Sri Lanka took control of the situation and captured the last eight Indian wickets for the addition of just 51 runs with Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka causing the damage.