India beat Sri Lanka by 6 wickets. (Source: AP)
India rode on Manish Pandey and Dinehs Karthik’s brilliant batting display to seal a win by 6 wickets over Sri Lanka in Colombo. Chasing a target of 153 runs in 19 overs, India lost captain Rohit Sharma and in-form opener Shikhar Dhawan early in the innings. But KL Rahul who was included in the XI for the first time in the series along with Suresh Raina steadied the ship for India. The two batsmen put on 40 runs for the third wicket before Raina got out. Rahul was later dismissed hit wicket for 18 when the team score read 85/4. But Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik made sure that India don’t lose any more wickets and the two players stitched an unbeaten partnership of 68 runs to guide India home. India had earlier defeated Bangladesh and this is their second win on the trot in the tournament.
With the 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka on Monday, India have now registered two victories on the trot in the tournament. They had earlier defeated Bangladesh and are now sitting at the helm of the points table with four points from three matches under their belt. India will now play Bangladesh on Wednesday.
India defeated Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to grab their second win in the Nidahas Trophy 2018. Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey scripted a perfect win for India in Colombo. The two batsmen remained unbeaten and guided India home comprehensively
The Indian batsmen have once again build up a good stand. Both Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik have got settled out in the middle now. India now need 40 off the last five overs
KL Rahul gets himself out hit wicket. He had just survived a run out appeal but dragged his right foot on the stumps behind on the very next delivery. India mlose fourth and this contest has certainly become an interesting one. Jeevan Mendis gets his first in the match
The Indian batsmen have maintained a good scoring rate in this chase. The visitors did lose early wickets but Raina and Rahul showed great character to hold the innings together. Raina was unlucky to not get big score but the onus is now on Rahul and Manish Pandey to carry the momentum forward and take India over the line.
Suresh Raina departs rather meekly. Caught by Perera at mid-off and Pradeep strikes. Went out of the way to clear the infield but mistimes it badly to only find the fielder. India are 62/3 in the 7th over
The Indian team have a certain fan tuned in from Dubai.
Sanjay Manjrekar on air, "He (Raina) should get a bat sponsor now!" and how right is he. Chameera would agree. Raina with three lovely hits to different parts of the park. Only common theme? Poor balls. 16 runs from the over. India are 46/2 after 5 overs
Sri Lanka have the big wicket now. Dhawan has been in superb form this series and they get him for just 8 runs. More a case of Dhawan gifting it. With the ball spinning away from him, off Dananjaya, Dhawan went for a flick over mid-wicket and gets little contact on it. Simple catch for Perera. India are 22/2
Rohit Sharma comes down the track to Dananjaya and sends the ball down Kusal Mendis' throat. Got to the pitch of the ball but cramped for room, he had little else to do. Not timing that better only adds to the problem. India are 13/1 after 2 overs
India openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan come out to bat and begin the 153 run chase. Rohit to face first ball and Lakmal has it. SIX and FOUR off second and third ball and India are off to a flier.
On hat-trick ball, Lakmal gets the bat, only just, and Sri Lanka finish with 152/9
KNUCKLE BALL! Chameera with a big swing and skies it to short third man where Unadkat runs back and takes the catch.
Shardul Thakur strikes and removes Shanaka! Outside the off stump, the Sri Lanka batsman goes for a big heave and only gets the outside edge of the bat which somehow goes behind to DK. There's that knuckle ball once again. Sri Lanka are 151/8
Unadkat finishes with a wicket. Dananjaya tried to create room but only finds KL Rahul in the deep. Sri Lanka are 146/7 after 18 overs
Yuzvendra Chahal gets the big wicket and Kusal Mendis walks back. After a fantastic inning, that is an extremely soft dismissal. Rohit persists with Chahal and is rewarded with the whale. Shortish length, Mendis with a half-hearted go at it and sends it straight to Rohit Sharma. Sri Lanka are 120/6 in the 15th over
Washington Sundar strikes to send new man Jeevan Mendis back. Tossed up to give the impression that the ball would spin away, but it came in with the arm and beats the inside edge. Topples the middle and leg stump. Sri Lanka are 120/5 after 14 overs
Thisara Perera pays the price for going for one shot too many. Knuckle ball from Shardul Thakur and it gets the toe end of the bat and is taken by Chahal at extra cover. Neat take by Chahal with the ball going at a nice height, under the lights and the spinner going back. Sri Lanka are 113/4 in 12 overs
FIFTY! Kusal Mendis brings up his fifty from 31 balls. Second in two matches for him and third in five matches
This is reminiscent of the first T20 of the series. Rohit Sharma had few options as Kusal Perera went hammer and tongs
Thisara Perera is the new man into the bat and he enters with a bang. And another bang. Literally. Readied himself for the short delivery up front and pulled it for a six. Next one is into the slot and is thrashed for a six over long off. Sri Lanka are 108/3 in 11 overs
Tharanga is bowled by Vijay Shankar. Two dot balls are followed by a wicket. Tharanga looked uncomfortable with Shankar coming round the wicket. Shuffled plenty on the previous two balls but this time his slog hit fails to connect. Angled into the stumps and it goes on to topple the off stump. Sri Lanka are 96/3
THIS HAS GONE ROWS INTO THE STANDS! Mendis with an absolute thumping hit to Unadkat over deep square leg. Sri Lanka are 94/2 after 10 overs
Chahal to Tharanga and the Sri Lankan batsman finds the sweet spot of the bat and it goes flying into the stands. It pitched right in the zone to be hit and Tharanga obliges. Clubbed over cow corner.
Make that two sixes in the over. Short by Chahal and Mendis rocks on the backfoot to make room and thrashes it over deep midwicket. GOES SAILING INTO THE STANDS! Sri Lanka are 75/2 after 8 overs
On a free hit, Tharanga is taken at deep midwicket. Chahal saw him advance and banged the ball short and the batsman fails to get the desired connection. Straight to Vijay Shankar. Batsmen collect a single
BOWLED! Kusal Perera looks absolutely gobsmacked with the manner of that dismissal. He's been dismissed cheaply today and India celebrate. Washington Sundar strikes! Went for a reverse sweep, a bit late to it, drags it off the pad, and then gets the glove which goes on to hit the stumps. India don't mind. Sri Lanka are 36/2 after 4 overs
WICKET! Suresh Raina holds on to a stunner at mid wicket to dismiss Gunathilaka. Gunathilaka smashed a short pitched delivery with authority but Raina grabbed a stunning catch. SL lose their first
SIX! Gunathilaka begins the second over with a mighty hit. It has gone for a maximum and SL now move to 21/0. All the three teams have a win under their belt in the tournament and another victory in this contest will make the path towards the final easier for the winner
A lot has happened in the first four deliveries of the match. 11 runs coming from the two balls and now a close call for a run out but the batsman is safe
SIX! Kusal Mendis hammers that one away for a maximum. SL have got a brilliant start as they score 11 off first two deliveries
TEAMS:
India: Rohit Sharma(c), Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Lokesh Rahul, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik(w), Vijay Shankar, Washington Sundar, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera(w), Upul Tharanga, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera(c), Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera
Rohit Sharma: We are going to field first. There has been some rain around and we wanted to have a score in front of us. We have seen in this tournament that the wicket seems to get better. It was a high-scoring game and that proves wicket will get better. We have done that well. Another opportunity for us to showcase our talent. We spoke at length (about plans against Sri Lankan bowlers), we have understood their strength and weakensses. Hopefully, we can execute today.
Thisara Perera: It looks like a good batting track. We would like to put runs on the board. Our batters are doing well, our bowlers couldn't execute plans. We have learnt our mistakes. Normally, we are a good bowling line-up, hopefully we can do some change.
Rohit Sharma calls for tails and tails it is. India win toss and opt to field first.
CHANGES:
INDIA: KL Rahul comes in for Rishabh Pant
SRI LANKA: Suranga Lakmal comes in for Dinesh Chandimal
Toss to take place at 8.05 PM and match to start at 8.20 PM.
CONDITIONS: 19 overs a side and four bowlers can bowl four overs. One bowler to bowl three overs
Great news finally! Covers are coming off in Colombo. Rain has subsided. Umpires expected to inspect the outfield and surface soon.
No official call on the start as yet. It's started to drizzle again. A call will be taken once the rain stops and the umpires inspect the field: BCCI media manager.
Another sheet of cover coming on in Colombo. Definitely not a good sign. What else to do but wait for play to resume?
While we wait for covers to come off and play to resume, why not read this delightful piece on 'the big match' or "Battle of the Blues" in Colombo - a contest older than the Ashes.
"The drizzle has got slightly heavy. And the covers are coming back on. Toss and start of play delayed. Stay tuned for further updates" tweets BCCI. Oh well. Hang tight!