In-form Shreyas Iyer continued to impress with his dazzling stroke play as his unbeaten 44-ball 74 propelled India to a seven-wicket series win over Sri Lanka in the second T20 International on a chilly Saturday night in Dharamsala. Ravindra Jadeja shot 45 from 18 balls as India chased the target of 184 with 17 deliveries to register their 11th consecutive win in the format. Sanju Samson contributed 39 from 25 balls. India took a huge blow early on when they lost their captain Rohit Sharma for one in the last ball of the first over, the successful bowler was Dushmantha Chameera. Rohit was eliminated after Chameera delivered a good length ball that fished back into the righthander.
It was the ideal start for the visitors who enjoyed kissing defending a big total. They soon rejoiced when Ishan Kishan (16) stepped out to Lahiru Kumara, the soft dismissal meant India was reduced to 44 for two in the sixth over.
At the same time, the early departures of the openers presented a perfect opportunity for players like Iyer to make a big score, and he made it count by playing a fine knock combined with four sixes and six fours.
The talented Samson also took the opportunity but stepped out after making a solid 39 from 25 balls and added 84 vital runs for the third wicket with Iyer, a partnership that not only kept India’s innings stable but them. immediately returned to the game. contest.
Samson hit three sixes and two fours during his amusing stay in the middle.
Jadeja then hit seven fours and a six.
Earlier, skipper Dasun Shanaka shot away to an unbeaten 47 with just 19 balls after opener Pathum Nissanka topped the score with a 53-ball 75 when Sri Lanka gave the hosts a stiff target.
Coming in after his opening partner Danushka Gunathilaka (38 from 29 balls) laid the foundation, Nissanka broke loose and hit his runs at over 140. He found the fence 11 times until Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit him on the last ball of the penultimate got about.
However, Sri Lanka would not have achieved what they ultimately achieved had it not been for Shanaka’s five huge sixes and two fours.
India’s new ball operators Bhuvneshwar and Jasprit Bumrah got the cue to swing the cue in the first few overs, hit the bat and hit the pads, with the latter losing a review after a huge cry for an lbw in the second about.
The Sri Lankan openers came together as the innings went on with Gunathilaka, especially against the Indian bowling attack.
Gunathilaka’s, as well as Sri Lanka’s, first authoritative shot of the match came when he played Bumrah through the covers in the third over.
The offensive left-handed opener pulled Harshal Patel for his second limit, even though the Indians managed to keep things fairly calm in the middle.
Nissanka welcomed Yuzvendra Chahal with a boundary, heaving back to cut the leg spinner’s looser through the cover point, but the visitors were still unable to get the run rate they were looking for.
However, going from a poor 32 to no loss after the six power playovers, Sri Lanka got a move-on with Gunathilaka beating Jadeja for 18 runs in an eventful ninth over, which also saw the man’s resignation in form.
The first ball was full outside and Gunathilaka went through the wicket to smoke it over the deep midwicket for the first six of the evening.
A long ball from outside was played over the cover point fielder for a four and after forcing Jadeja to get around the stumps after the left arm spinner started from over the wicket Gunathilaka got his second maximum when he hit one over the deep end . midwicket boundary.
But Jadeja had the last laugh when Gunathilaka, trying to get one too many, played one high in the sky towards Long-on and Venkatesh Iyer managed to hold onto the skier after misjudging it at the picturesque, illuminated Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium where a sizable (50 percent full) crowd made a lot of noise.
Using his resources well, skipper Rohit had another breakthrough, Charith Asalanka (2), who was caught before the wicket by Chahal.
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Kamil Mishara (1) also came out cheap and fell for Bumrah’s slow off-cutter.
But Nissanka found a capable ally in Shanaka and added 58 quick runs for the fifth wicket to support their team.
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