SL in Ind: Inexperienced Lankans stun India by 5 wickets in opening T20

An inexperienced Sri Lanka team stunned India by 5 wickets in the first game of the three-match Twenty20 series played in Pune, India on Tuesday (9).

Put into bat first India were bowled out for 101 with seven deliveries remaining in their innings and Sri Lanka reached the winning target losing five wickets and with 12 balls to spare. 

Sri Lanka’s debutant fast bowler, Kasun Rajitha picked three important wickets to initiate India’s downfall as he went on to become the man-of-the-match.

He was well assisted by speedsters Dasun Shanaka, who claimed three wickets and Dushmantha Chameera, who picked two scalps. 

Off-spinner Sachithra Senanayake claimed a wicket. 

For India allrounder Ravichandran Ashwin top scored with an unbeaten 31 which came off 24 deliveries inclusive of five boundaries. 

Suresh Raina made a run-a-ball 20 while other batsmen failed to click. 

In their run chase, Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets – both openers -- debutant Niroshan Dickwella (4) and Danushka Gunathilaka (9) but a timely 39-run partnership between skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedara helped them recover. 

Chandimal top scored with a run-a-ball 35 inclusive of a four and two sixes while Kapugedara made 25 off 26 deliveries inclusive of four boundaries. 

Milinda Siriwardana remained unbeaten on 21 off 14 deliveries after hitting two fours and a six. 

Ashwin and Ashish Nehra claimed two wickets each. 

The win puts back Sri Lanka on top of ICC World Twenty20 Rakings.

The second match of the series will be played at Ranchi on Friday (12). 

India 101 all out (18.5) (Suresh Raina 20, Yuvraj Singh 10, Ravichandran Ashwin 31n.o, Dasun Shanaka 3/16, Kasun Rajitha 3/29, Dushmantha Chameera 2/14, Sachithra Senanayake 1/18)

Sri Lanka 105 for 5 wickets (18) (Dinesh Chandimal 35, Chamara Kapugedara 25, Milinda Siriwardana 21n.o, Ravichandran Ashwin 2/13, Ashish Nehra 2/21)