Suryakumar Yadav scored a 34-ball 50 while Shikhar Dhawan scored 46 as India posted a slightly below-par 164. However, a combined effort from the Indian bowlers helped them restrict Sri Lanka and bowled them out for 126. Bhuvneshwar Kumar took four wickets while other bowlers chipped in with at least one wicket each.
After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Sri Lanka had the perfect start as Dushmantha Chameera got rid of Prithvi Shaw off the very first ball of the game. Sanju Samson walked in at No. 3 and looked at ease. Alongside skipper Shikhar Dhawan, he added 51 runs in the first six overs. However, Samson once again failed to convert his start as he was dismissed soon after the powerplay as Wanindu Hasaranga pinned him plumb in front.
Suryakumar Yadav came in and looked extremely comfortable, and he scored a breezy half-century. He recorded a 34-ball 50 while Dhawan continued playing second fiddle at the other end. The duo shared a 62-run stand for the third wicket, and just when both batters were well set and looked ready to cut loose, they fell in successive overs.
India’s score when Suryakumar fell was 127/2, with 28 balls to go in the innings. However, they couldn’t really force the pace and put the foot down on the accelerator. The Sri Lankan bowlers managed to pull things back as Hardik Pandya scratched around for a 12-ball 10 while Ishan Kishan was the only one who found the fence in the last four overs, and he made 20 off 14 balls as India crawled to 164/5.
In reply, Sri Lanka got off to a brisk start as they got 10 runs each in the first two overs. But the introduction of Krunal Pandya sent Minod Banuka packing as the left-hander hit one straight to cover. Avishka Fernando kept going at the other end as Sri Lanka reached 46/1 at the end of the powerplay.
Yuzvendra Chahal came in and knocked over Dhananjaya de Silva before Fernando holed out in the very next over (8th) to give Bhuvneshwar Kumar his first scalp. Ashen Bandara couldn’t get going and laboured around for 19 deliveries as he could muster a mere nine runs. He was knocked over by Hardik Pandya.
Charith Asalanka fought a lone battle as the others struggled at the other end. He found the boundaries regularly, but the lack of support meant the pressure mounted on him. Even he was struggling with cramps.
With 58 required in the last five overs, Deepak Chahar bowled a decisive over as he took two wickets in as many deliveries to give India total control of the game. He had Asalanka holing out at deep mid-wicket before knocking over Wanindu Hasaranga for a first-ball duck.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar then came in and got three out of the last four wickets to seal the game for India. In between, Varun Chakravarthy managed to pick up his maiden international and T20I scalp as well.
India eventually won by 38 runs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 126 with nine balls to spare. India continued their dominance over Sri Lanka across formats.
Brief scores
India 164/5 (Suryakumar 50, Dhawan 46, Chameera 2/24, Hasaranga 2/28) beat Sri Lanka 126 allout (Charith Asalanka 44, Fernando 26, Bhuvneshwar 4/22, Chahar 2/24) by 38 runs.
