share
29461F
Home » Live Cricket Score » Nidahas Tri-Series, 2018 » commentary

Sri Lanka vs India Live Commentary, Match 1, Nidahas Tri-Series, 2018, March 6, 2018

IND 174/5 (20)
Sri Lanka beat India by 5 wickets
SL 175/5 (18.3)
Match over
India Inning Sri Lanka Inning
0.0 : Sri Lanka vs India! AGAIN! But this time another team joins them to fight for the silverware - Bangladesh. How many times have these teams faced each other in recent times? But this is a new series and a different set of players for India. Despite the emergency being called in Sri Lanka, we are all green lights here in Colombo. Hello and welcome to our coverage of the first match of the Tri-series between Sri Lanka and India. The visitors come into this game after restings some of their big guns
The visitors come into this game after resting some of their big guns. The hosts are in form after getting the better of Bangladesh in the series before this. They will hope their top players continue the purple patch and will look to start the tourney on a positive note. Let's hope for a cracker of a game. We will bring you the toss and the teams in a while.
PITCH REPORT - Brett Lee is down on the field and gives us a report on the pitch. He says that there is plenty of grass on the pitch but it is on the drier side. He adds that the weather was hot and humid in the past couple of days. He states that there are a few cracks on the surface and the ball will skid through. He opines that the bowlers should pitch it up and not be afraid. But goes on to add that it is a flat pitch and a good one for batting. If they start well they should put runs on the
TOSS - Dinesh Chandimal spins the coin and Rohit Sharma calls tails. He gets it wrong and the Sri Lankan skipper decides to bowl first.
Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lankan skipper says that it is a good pitch and they will look to restrict India to a minimum total. He says his team is in good form and are playing some good cricket. He adds by saying that they are playing seven batsmen and four bowlers.
Indian skipper, Rohit Sharma, says that he was not to bothered the toss as the pitch is a good one and adds by that it won't change much during the 40 overs. He states that their team is in good form but this is a new series and they want to start on a good note. He reckons that they have many youngsters in their side and this is the perfect platform for them.
The national anthems had taken place and that's over now. The umpires and the Sri Lankan team are out in the middle. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma stride out with the bat. Dushmantha Chameera will take the new ball. A slip in place. Here we go...
0.1 : D Chameera to R Sharma, Steams in and starts of with a length ball outside off. Rohit defends it with a straight bat.
0.2 : D Chameera to R Sharma, Another good length ball around off and Sharma defends it well on his back foot.
0.3 : D Chameera to R Sharma, Sharma defends this off his back foot while Chameera just looses his balance on his follow through.
0.4 : D Chameera to R Sharma, Wide. Slow ball down the leg, Rohit looks to heave this away but fails to connect. Wide signaled by the umpire.
D Chameera to R Sharma, OUT! SCREAMER! Big wicket first up! Sri Lanka get Rohit Sharma very early in the piece. This is a length ball in line of the stumps, Sharma looks to hit it over mid off. He ends up getting more height than distance. Jeevan Mendis backtracks from that position takes a good catch with a dive. Mind you, he is more than 35 years of age yet he has pulled this one off like a youngster. A blob for the Indian skipper, just what the hosts would have wanted.
Suresh Raina walks in next.
0.5 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. The batsmen have run through for a single. Dhawan gets off the mark.
0.6 : D Chameera to S Raina, Raina cuts this to the point fielder.
Nuwan Pradeep to bowl from the other end.
1.1 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, Pitched up, in line of the stumps, Dhawan hits it through mid on for a run.
1.2 : N Pradeep to S Raina, Over pitched ball, Raina plays it to mid-wicket and quickly runs to the other end for his first run. The fielder has a shy at the non-strikers end and if he hit it would be close.
1.3 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, FOUR! Around off and Dhawan charges down the wicket and pops it over mid off. The ball races away to the fence for the first boundary for the Indian innings.
1.4 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground.
1.5 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, Short ball on the hips of Dhawan who pulls it behind square for another run.
1.6 : N Pradeep to S Raina, OUT! BOWLED! Raina misses the full toss and the ball goes and hits the timber. Slower ball, Raina gives room and completely misses the ball trying to cut it on the off side. The ball crashes into the middle stump and sends Raina back to the hut. What a start for the Lankans.
Manish Pandey joins Dhawan in the middle.
2.1 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, Outside off, Dhawan cuts it past point for one.
2.2 : D Chameera to M Pandey, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
2.3 : D Chameera to M Pandey, Outside off, Pandey misses his flick and the ball goes to Dinesh behind the stumps.
2.4 : D Chameera to M Pandey, Bangs this short but Pandey fails the attempted hook shot.
2.5 : D Chameera to M Pandey, Pandey defends his ball from his crease.
2.6 : D Chameera to M Pandey, Effort ball, Pandey ducks under the ball at the last moment.
Akila Dananjaya to roll his arm now.
3.1 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Strong appeal from the bowler and the keeper but the umpire stays put. Starts off with a ball spinning into Dhawan who misses his flick and the ball goes to hit his pads. The keeper appeals and also thinks of going for the review but Akila decides against it.
3.2 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Pitched up outside off, Dhawan kneels and tries to sweep it but is beaten.
3.3 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, FOUR! A bit shorter this time and Dhawan does not miss it this time. Rocks back and pulls this behind mid-wicket for a boundary.
3.4 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Slower through the air this time, outside off, Dhawan charges down and defends this.
3.5 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, WIDE! Wide outside off stump, the batsman leaves it alone. The Umpire signals a wide.
A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Good running from Pandey as he forces Dhawan for the second. Dhawan plays it through mid-wicket and hares back for the second.
3.6 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Short ball, Dhawan pulls this behind square to retain strike.
Change of ends for Nuwan Pradeep.
4.1 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, FOUR! Dananjaya's efforts on the third man fence should be lauded, but the result is in India's favour. Pradeep delivers this on a length angling away, Dhawan stands back and guides it towards third man. Akila runs to his right in the deep and puts in the dive. Yet fails to prevent the boundary.
4.2 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, FOUR! LUCKY DHAWAN! The short ball ploy was initially against Raina but here, against Dhawan, it almost paid dividends. Dhawan is hurried into the pull and gets a top edge. The ball sails over the short fine leg fielder and goes to the fence for another boundary.
4.3 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, On the pads, worked away to the on side for a single.
4.4 : N Pradeep to M Pandey, WIDE! Length ball hurled down leg, Pandey misses the flick. Chandimal appeals to just put the umpire off, but the umpire's having nothing of that. Wide given.
N Pradeep to M Pandey, Quick run. Pandey pushes it towards mid off and takes on the fielder's arm. Makes it in, in time, beating the wild shy.
4.5 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, WIDE! Full and down leg, Dhawan fails to flick it away.
N Pradeep to S Dhawan, Length ball around off, Dhawan plays it towards point and gets to the other end. There is a wild throw at the batter's end and thankfully, doesn't result in an overthrow.
4.6 : N Pradeep to M Pandey, FOUR! AUTHORITATIVE! Full in length, Pandey gets his front foot out of the way and blasts it over mid on. It almost goes the distance as the ball just bounces inside the ropes. 17 runs off this over, very costly.
5.1 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Spins into Dhawan and the batsman goes on one knee to sweep it past the short fine leg fielder for one.
5.2 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, Slow ball on middle stump, Pandey plays it back to the bowler.
5.3 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, Tossed up, Pandey hits it hard to long on but just manages a single.
5.4 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Floated ball on the legs of Dhawan who misses his shot. The ball hits his pads and they run on the leg bye.
5.5 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, Gives this some air and again Pandey hits it hard towards long on. He runs the first one hard and wanted the second but Dhawan sends him back.
5.6 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Outside off, Dhawan kneels and sweeps it to square leg for one.
Thisara Perera to bowl his first over.
6.1 : T Perera to S Dhawan, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. The batsmen have run through for a single.
6.2 : T Perera to M Pandey, FOUR! Short ball, around off, Pandey quickly takes position and works it towards the fine leg region for another boundary.
6.3 : T Perera to M Pandey, Short again, Pandey pulls but cannot find the gap.
6.4 : T Perera to M Pandey, Bangs this short again, Pandey looks to hook this but gets it off the back of the bat towards third man for one.
6.5 : T Perera to S Dhawan, Around off, Dhawan punches this to the off side for a single.
6.6 : T Perera to M Pandey, Fuller ball, Pandey hits it through mid on to keep strike.
Jeevan Mendis into the attack.
7.1 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Pandey cuts it past point to move to the other end.
0.0 : The Sri Lankans have opted for a review for an LBW decision against Dhawan. They appeal but the umpire gives it not out. Chandimal doesn't think the same and opts for the review. Has this pitched outside leg?
7.2 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, NOT OUT! Dhawan survives. Pitches this on leg and Dhawan fails to sweep this one too. The ball goes to hit the pads and after a strong appeal from the players they decide to review this. Replays show that the ball has pitched outside leg. Good decision from the umpire. The batsmen cross between all this.
7.3 : J Mendis to M Pandey, SIX! Huge! Tossed up and Pandey slogs sweeps this over mid-wicket for a biggie.
7.4 : J Mendis to M Pandey, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot.
7.5 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Pandey defends this from within the crease. Good come back from Mendis.
7.6 : J Mendis to M Pandey, 1 run.
8.1 : N Pradeep to M Pandey, Length ball outside off, Manish punches it through covers for one.
8.2 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, SIX! Streaky again, but Dhawan would hardly be bothered by the outcome. Pradeep bangs this short on the stumps, Dhawan looks to go for the pull. Goes through with the shot and the ball goes off the top edge and sails over the third man fence for a maximum. This is the first one of the game. That's the 50-run stand between Dhawan and Pandey. Resurrection in progress and going well.
8.3 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, SIX! Another one! The word 'commanding' is nowhere close to this shot. Another effort ball from Pradeep, Dhawan is cramped for room yet proceeds to play the pull. We are waiting in anticipation to see the fielder get under that to pouch that but instead, the next visuals are of the ball sailing over the fine leg fence.
8.4 : N Pradeep to S Dhawan, The batsman works it down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single.
8.5 : N Pradeep to M Pandey, Length ball on the stumps, punched right back. The ball goes and strikes the stumps at the other end.
8.6 : N Pradeep to M Pandey, Very very slow ball, Manish backs away and looks to punch that, fails. Just one run off the last three balls.
9.1 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, Short ball outside leg, Dhawan hits it past the bowler for an easy run.
9.2 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Tossed up, Pandey hits it past mid on for another run.
9.3 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, WIDE! Clever bowling from Mendis. Sees Dhawan charging him and drags his length outside leg. The ball is down the leg and a bit too far for Chandimal to take the bails off. He tries throwing the ball on the stumps but misses, the batsmen come back for the second run as the ball goes towards square leg.
J Mendis to M Pandey, The ball takes an inside edge off the bat of Pandey and the pick up a quick single.
9.4 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, Outside off, Dhawan reserves sweeps this to square leg for a couple.
9.5 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, That kept low, outside leg and the ball hits the pads of Dhawan before rolling to the leg side. They pick up yet another leg bye.
9.6 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Floated delivery, Pandey hits it through mid on for one.
10.1 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, Flatter outside off, Pandey goes back and punches it through covers for a brace.
10.2 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, This time Manish comes down the track and pushes it to long off for one.
10.3 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Dhawan moves to 49 with a punch off the back foot through covers.
10.4 : A Dananjaya to M Pandey, Shorter in length, Manish goes back and pulls it through mid-wicket for one.
10.5 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, FOUR! 5th T20I fifty for Gabbar! Dhawan is continuing his good run of form with the bat. Akila tosses this well wide of off, Dhawan gets down on a knee and nails the drive through covers for a boundary. He has done well to hold the innings together after the initial blows.
10.6 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, Dhawan sweeps this one and retains strike.
Thisara Perera is back on.
11.1 : T Perera to S Dhawan, FOUR! Mind you, this is Dhawan in full flow. Perera angles this away on a length, Shikhar stands tall and punches it through covers. Such is the timing on that, that it comfortably beats sweeper to his left.
11.2 : T Perera to S Dhawan, This is played with an angled bat to third man for a single.
11.3 : T Perera to M Pandey, FOUR! Pandey is making merry as well. Now pressure is mounting here on Perera. Length ball, a touch short. Pandey transfers his weight on the back foot and just whips it through backward square leg for a boundary.
Change in field. Long off and long on come in the circle now.
11.4 : T Perera to M Pandey, Short in length, Manish walks across but fails to pull it away.
11.5 : T Perera to M Pandey, Another short delivery, Pandey makes room to play the upper cut. Gets beaten due to the extra bounce.
11.6 : T Perera to M Pandey, Fuller this time, eased through mid on for one. 12 from the over and also, 100 up for India.
Jeevan Mendis is back from another end now.
12.1 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Mendis is bowling a lot of side arm deliveries tonight. This is on a fuller length, Pandey slaps it towards covers and gets to the other end very quickly.
12.2 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, Swept away through square leg for a single.
12.3 : J Mendis to M Pandey, Edgy stuff! Pandey charges down the track and looks to play this one over covers. Ends up getting an inside edge and the ball rolls through Chandimal's legs. It results in a couple.
12.4 : J Mendis to M Pandey, OUT! That's it for Manish Pandey tonight. We all know how dangerous he can be towards the end and hence, no wonder why the Lankans are elated. Seeing the tossed up ball, Pandey slinks down the track to hit it over the bowler's head. Ends up getting off the inner half. The ball travels straight to Gunathilaka at deep mid-wicket who doesn't mess it up. A big partnership comes to an end. Can Sri Lanka build on this?
The man in at number 5 for India is Rishabh Pant. Interesting choice this.
12.5 : J Mendis to S Dhawan, Shorter in length, pulled through mid-wicket for one.
12.6 : J Mendis to R Pant, Floated on the stumps, pushed back towards the bowler for nothing. End of a successful over for Mendis. 5 runs and a wicket off that.
Danushka Gunathilaka is brought into the attack.
13.1 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, Flatter outside off, tapped towards point for one.
13.2 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, This one is outside off, Pant looks to push it towards covers but gets an inside edge onto his boots.
13.3 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Pant gets going by gliding this towards point.
13.4 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, Dhawan gets down the track and drives it to long off for one.
13.5 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Flatter outside off, Pant looks to cut but misses.
13.6 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, This one is wristed through mid-wicket for a single.
Akila Dananjaya is back on.
14.1 : A Dananjaya to R Pant, Pant isn't looking good tonight. Looks to go big over the off side but gets an inside edge onto the pads. The ball rolls to the off side and Dhawan calls for one and they complete it.
14.2 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, SIX! BAMMMM! Dananjaya bowls a half-tracker on middle, Dhawan hangs on the back foot and banishes it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen.
14.3 : A Dananjaya to S Dhawan, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. They pick up a single.
14.4 : A Dananjaya to R Pant, Quicker outside off, punched to covers.
14.5 : A Dananjaya to R Pant, SIX! Wow, what a stroke! In a matter of a couple of deliveries, Pant has proved me wrong. He slinks down the track and goes inside out over covers. The ball goes the distance.
14.6 : A Dananjaya to R Pant, Flatter on the pads, flicked away round the corner for one. 4-0-37-0 for Dananjaya tonight.
15.1 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Pant misses, Chandimal misses. Tossed up outside off, Pant looks to slog but misses. The keeper, too, misses and lets it through for a bye. He applauds the bowler though.
15.2 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, Dhawan reverse sweeps this through point for one.
15.3 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Eased through covers to get to the other end.
15.4 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, SIX! BOOM! Dhawan is in a murderous mood here. Floated on the stumps, Dhawan gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it high and handsomely over mid-wicket.
15.5 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, The batsman fails to get bat on that one and is hit on the pad.
15.6 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, Driven through covers for one to retain strike.
Dushmantha Chameera is back into the attack.
16.1 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, SIX! Well... Do a Ctrl F and find Dhawan and fine leg. Too many runs there and most of them via top edges. This is short in length, Shikhar moves inside the line in a bid to pull it. The ball takes the top edge and clears fine leg to take Dhawan into the 80s.
16.2 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, Fuller this time, driven to long off for one.
16.3 : D Chameera to R Pant, Full outside off, Pant slashes and gets a thick outside edge to third man for one.
16.4 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, DROPPED! Dhawan is living a charmed life tonight. This is full and slanting away, Dhawan looks to play the drive without much feet movement. Gets a thick outside edge and Chandimal dives to his left but fails to grab that one. A single results.
16.5 : D Chameera to R Pant, Full on the pads, Pant just gets a tickle to the keeper on the bounce. They run one, beating Dinesh's throw.
16.6 : D Chameera to S Dhawan, SIX! You don't give Dhawan many chances just for this reason. He slinks down the track in a flash and takes it on the full. Bludgeons it straight over the bowler's head for half a dozen. Brings up India's 150.
17.1 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Floated up on the stumps, Pant looks to play the reverse sweep but gets an inside edge onto the pad. The ball lobs to the off side and he isn't happy with the outcome.
17.2 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Now he rotates strike by driving it through mid off.
17.3 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, Dhawan wanted two after hitting it towards long on but it is not to be. Just one there.
17.4 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Tossed up outside off, Pant looks to dismiss the ball from his presence but all he manages to do is make contact with thin air.
17.5 : D Gunathilaka to R Pant, Pant gets down on a knee and sweeps it through square leg for one.
17.6 : D Gunathilaka to S Dhawan, OUT! Danushka Gunathilaka gets the big scalp! Dhawan falls 10 short of the triple-figure mark. Gets a nice full floated delivery on off, he looks to go over long off, mindful of the fielder there. Perera sees that the ball is coming straight to him and takes it by keeping his eyes on the ball. Hush! Perhaps Sri Lanka can now get a breather. Maybe with Pant not able to strike big, Dhawan had to take the onus upon himself and departs in the process.
Dinesh Karthik walks in next.
Now after taking the catch, Thisara Perera is back on to bowl.
18.1 : T Perera to R Pant, Full on off, driven to long off for one.
18.2 : T Perera to D Karthik, Short in length, Karthik pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one. Nice way to get going.
18.3 : T Perera to R Pant, Full ball outside off, Pant can only drill this to long off for a single.
18.4 : T Perera to D Karthik, Perera has been good in this over so far. Another delivery just outside off on a fuller length. The batter cannot get under it and can only smash it through covers for a couple.
18.5 : T Perera to D Karthik, Full again on off, Karthik slogs it to deep mid-wicket to get to the other end.
18.6 : T Perera to R Pant, Another full one on off, Rishabh digs it out to long off for one. 5 singles and a double in this one. Very good one from Thisara.
180 on the cards? Dushmantha Chameera to bowl the last over of the innings.
19.1 : D Chameera to R Pant, Hurled around off, Pant makes room but hits it down to long off for a single.
19.2 : D Chameera to D Karthik, FOUR! It doesn't matter how the runs come as long as they do. This is a slower delivery on a length outside off, Karthik looks to smash it over the off side. Gets a thick outside edge and that enables the ball to run away to the third man fence in a flash. Despairing look on the bowler's face says it all.
19.3 : D Chameera to D Karthik, FOUR! This is Dinesh Karthik's boundary all the way. Chameera takes a clue from Perera's previous over and spears it full on the stumps. Karthik is aware of that and flick-digs it over square leg. Once the man in the circle is cleared, the result is clear as well.
19.4 : D Chameera to D Karthik, Full on the stumps, flicked towards deep mid-wicket for a single.
19.5 : D Chameera to R Pant, FOUR! Finally a boundary off Pant's blade. He last hit one in the 15th over and now here's another. He makes room and spanks it through covers. Succeeds in finding the gap in the deep.
19.6 : D Chameera to R Pant, OUT! That's all. Pant doesn't trouble the scorers much after hitting the previous boundary. Perhaps this signals his troubles in his innings. This is short down the leg side. He gets inside the line and pulls it straight down fine leg's throat. Pradeep there pockets it safely to RESTRICT INDIA TO 174/5!
As per our stats person, this is India's highest score in Sri Lanka batting first. Well, they largely struggled and stuttered their way here. By the looks of it, it didn't seem an easy track to play your shots as the ball didn't come onto the bat as easily as the batters would have liked. That is writ large in the way Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina's innings.
Meanwhile, Russel Arnold has a short chat with Jeevan Mendis, one of the pick of the bowlers. He states that his variations helped him on this surface. He reckons that the score is chaseable and backs his batters to gun it down. Is proud of his side's bowling efforts.
Yes, such was the surface that Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka, the part-timers, were the two most economical bowlers on display. They put the brakes on the scoring after Shikhar Dhawan and Manish Pandey's stand, that threatened to take the score to a highly insurmountable stage. Once the pair was dismissed, India couldn't get going, with Rishabh Pant failing to get any momentum going. Dhawan's fifty was the only talking point.
Sri Lanka's bowling was largely disciplined, something that is not associated with them generally. That means that they should feel pretty confident of chasing this down. However, India's bowlers would look to make use of the track that seems to be a bit two-paced. Join us for the chase, that'll get underway shortly.
0.0 : We are back for the chase. The umpires come out once again with the Indians players this time. Upul Tharanga and Danushka Gunathilaka will face the new ball. Jaydev Unadkat will start proceedings for the Indian team. One slip in place. Here we go...
0.1 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, Steams in and bowls it full. Gunathilaka stays in the crease and bunts this.
0.2 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, Length ball this time and Gunathilaka flicks it off this pads to pick up the first run of the innings.
0.3 : J Unadkat to K Mendis, Angles this away from Mendis who gets a bottom edge to it.
0.4 : J Unadkat to K Mendis, FOUR! ALMOST a wicket for India. Length ball moving away from Mendis. He looks to cut this but the ball flies off the edge past Raina at first slip for a boundary.
0.5 : J Unadkat to K Mendis, Mendis gets this past covers for one.
0.6 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. Six runs from the first over.
Washington Sundar will share the new ball from the other end.
1.1 : W Sundar to K Mendis, FOUR! First of the innings for Sri Lanka! Tossed up ball and Mendis chips it over mid off for a boundary.
1.2 : W Sundar to K Mendis, Gives this one air too and Mendis sweeps this behind square for a brace.
1.3 : W Sundar to K Mendis, OUT! India get their early wicket. Sundar not afraid to toss it and deceives Mendis in the flight. He is early in the shot and the ball skies to mid off where Dhawan gets below it and takes a good catch.
Kusal Perera walks in next to bat.
1.4 : W Sundar to K Perera, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
1.5 : W Sundar to K Perera, SIX! Sweet! What a hit from Perera who has just come to bat. Tossed up and Perera gets low to sweep it over mid-wicket for a biggie!
1.6 : W Sundar to K Perera, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. One run added to the total.
Shardul Thakur to bowl his first over.
2.1 : S Thakur to K Perera, FOUR! Starts off with a short ball and Perera pulls this behind square for a boundary.
2.2 : S Thakur to K Perera, FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Perera. Uses the pace of Thakur and guides it to the third man region for another boundary.
2.3 : S Thakur to K Perera, FOUR! Hat-trick of boundaries for Perera. Pitched up and Perera lofts it over mid off for four more.
2.4 : S Thakur to K Perera, SIX! All the way this time. Similar delivery and this time Perera gets plenty on it to go all the way for a maximum. 18 from the first four balls.
Shikhar Dhawan, the vice-captain, has something to say and he whispers his ideas to the skipper Rohit Sharma. Will this stop the bleeding?
2.5 : S Thakur to K Perera, FOUR! Expensive over this from Thakur and he just cannot fins the right length. Full toss this time and Perera carves it past point for the fourth boundary of the over.
S Thakur to K Perera, FOUR! Straight back the bowler. Full again and Perera hits it down the ground for another boundary. He is looking dangerous. 26 with a ball to go.
2.6 : S Thakur to K Perera, Dot ball. Thakur gets away. Bowls this short and Perera pulls it away only to find the short fine leg fielder.
3.1 : W Sundar to D Gunathilaka, Flatter on off, defended with a straight bat towards the bowler.
3.2 : W Sundar to D Gunathilaka, Darted on the pads, Danushka fails to flick it away. The ball rolls away and a leg bye is taken.
3.3 : W Sundar to K Perera, Perera gets down the track and flicks it through mid-wicket. Before the throw from the deep comes in, a couple results. Excellent running.
3.4 : W Sundar to K Perera, Angled in from round the wicket, chipped aerially towards mid on for a single.
3.5 : W Sundar to D Gunathilaka, Outside off, pushed towards point.
3.6 : W Sundar to D Gunathilaka, SIX! It's raining in Colombo. No, not bad news, but it's raining sixes! This is tossed up around middle, Danushka gets down on a knee and smites it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.
Jaydev Unadkat back for his second over.
4.1 : J Unadkat to K Perera, Perera gets an inside edge onto his pads and they scamper for the run. The fielder has a shy at the stumps but misses.
4.2 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, Hits it well over mid-wicket and they come back for the second.
4.3 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, SIX! Gunathilaka gets into the act now. Pitches it up and the batsmen lofts it over mid on for half a dozen. Sri Lanka are on a roll.
4.4 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, The batsman was beaten and missed the line of the delivery.
4.5 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, Wide. The batsman tries flicking a ball that is down the leg side. Wide signalled by the umpire.
J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! On the pads of Gunathilaka who works it down the leg side for a boundary.
4.6 : J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, OUT! One to many perhaps and India get the break through. Slow ball, in line of the stumps and the batsman chips it in the air towards mid on. Pant gets under it and takes a simple catch. A quick-fire partnership for Sri Lanka comes to an end. Will India sneak through the line-up now?
Dinesh Chandimal is next to bat.
5.1 : W Sundar to K Perera, Perera wrists this through mid-wicket for a single.
5.2 : W Sundar to D Chandimal, Flatter outside off, punched through covers for three runs.
5.3 : W Sundar to K Perera, Floated on middle, hit straight to mid on.
5.4 : W Sundar to K Perera, Flatter on off, Perera goes back and punches it to mid on for back-to-back dots.
5.5 : W Sundar to K Perera, Quick run this time. Kusal taps this one towards mid on again and this time quickly gets to the other end.
5.6 : W Sundar to D Chandimal, Flatter on the pads, turned to mid-wicket for nothing. Sri Lanka's best Powerplay in T20Is - 75/2. They are on course to chase the target in front of them.
Yuzvendra Chahal to roll his arm.
6.1 : Y Chahal to K Perera, Spins this into Perera who eases it on the leg side for one.
6.2 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, Chandimal drives this through mid off to rotate strike.
6.3 : Y Chahal to K Perera, SIX! No stopping Perera even after he had lost his partner in the last over. Chalal tosses this in line of the stumps and Perera charges down and deposits this over the bowlers head for a maximum.
6.4 : Y Chahal to K Perera, Played through mid-wicket by the batsman. A misfield there helps Sri Lanka come back for two.
6.5 : Y Chahal to K Perera, Perera hits it through mid-wicket for a single.
6.6 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, Outside off, Chandimal cuts it past point for a brace.
Vijay Shankar to bowl for the first time on his debut.
7.1 : V Shankar to K Perera, FIFTY for Perera. Short ball, Perera rocks back and cuts it on the off side for one. He gets there in just 23 balls.
7.2 : V Shankar to D Chandimal, The ball takes an inside edge of the blade of Chandimal and they run through.
7.3 : V Shankar to K Perera, Perera shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot.
7.4 : V Shankar to K Perera, Bowls this at the ribs of Perera who pulls this to square leg for just one.
7.5 : V Shankar to D Chandimal, Chandimal pushes this through covers for one.
7.6 : V Shankar to K Perera, Good bouncer from Shankar to end the over. Outside off, Perera leaves it alone.
8.1 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, Outside off, Chandimal looks to cut it but gets a top edge to it.
8.2 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, Wrong un'. Chandimal gets an inside edge onto his pads.
8.3 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, FOUR! Good looking shot from the skipper. Seen the ball tossed up and dances down to hit it past the bowler.
8.4 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, Played to mid-wicket region by the batsman. They manage to come back for the second.
8.5 : Y Chahal to D Chandimal, OUT! Chahal gets the skipper. Beautifully bowled by the spinner. Quicker through the air and Chandimal charges down the wicket ending up yorking himself. Tries to flick it on the on side but a gap between bat and pad is enough for the ball to go through at disturb the furniture.
Upul Tharanga walks in next.
8.6 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails.
Suresh Raina is into the attack.
9.1 : S Raina to K Perera, Perera cuts this ball past point for a run.
9.2 : S Raina to U Tharanga, The batsman has driven it through mid-off.
9.3 : S Raina to U Tharanga, Another dot ball. Good bowling from Raina. Tharanga pushes this to covers.
9.4 : S Raina to U Tharanga, The ball hits the pads of Tharanga and they run through for one.
9.5 : S Raina to K Perera, The batsman has driven it through mid off. The batsmen have run through for a single.
9.6 : S Raina to U Tharanga, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. Good over from Raina.
10.1 : Y Chahal to K Perera, STOPPED! Floated on the stumps, Perera charges down and blasts it straight. Chahal stretches his right hand out and stops it cleanly.
10.2 : Y Chahal to K Perera, WIDE! This is the googly but well outside off. Perera goes to the off side but fails to cut it. Wide given.
Y Chahal to K Perera, This one is hit back to the bowler. Chahal gets low to his left but parries it away. It is a dot ball though.
10.3 : Y Chahal to K Perera, FOUR! Ahhh! The Indians shouldn't be complaining about such type of runs as Dhawan also got them this way. This is floated down leg, Perera looks to sweep. Gets a top edge and the ball goes through to the fine leg fence.
10.4 : Y Chahal to K Perera, Kusal slinks down the track and pushes it past the bowler for one.
10.5 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, SIX! What a way to get off the mark. Tossed up delivery outside off, it is the leg spinner. Tharanga picks it up and smites it over deep mid-wicket for half a dozen.
10.6 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, Flatter outside off, punched through covers for one. 61 off 54 needed.
11.1 : S Raina to U Tharanga, Tharanga drives it to long off for one.
11.2 : S Raina to K Perera, SIX! Kusal Perera is audacious. Period. Raina darts it around off, it comes at a good length for Perera. He gets into position early and reverse hits it high and handsome over deep backward point for a biggie.
11.3 : S Raina to K Perera, Flatter outside off, cut away through point for one.
11.4 : S Raina to U Tharanga, This is eased down to long off for a single.
11.5 : S Raina to K Perera, The batsman has punched the ball off the back foot. One run added to the total.
11.6 : S Raina to U Tharanga, Floated outside off, Tharanga chips it inside out over covers for a couple.
Washington Sundar to bowl out. 3-0-27-1 are his current figures.
12.1 : W Sundar to K Perera, Floated around off, pushed back to the bowler.
12.2 : W Sundar to K Perera, Flatter trajectory on the pads, Kusal misses the flick and wears it on the pads.
12.3 : W Sundar to K Perera, WIDE! Fired down leg, Perera fails to make contact with that.
W Sundar to K Perera, OUT! Is this the wicket that turns it around for India? Sundar is the man, who has provided the breakthrough for them. This is floated outside off, Perera comes down the track in search of a big shot. Misses the ball completely and Dinesh Karthik does the rest. This is exceptional stuff from the youngster, considering that he is bowling at a time when the batters are in a murderous mood. 48 more needed off 45 balls.
Dasun Shanaka walks in next. The platform is set for him to get himself in and see his side through.
12.4 : W Sundar to D Shanaka, Floated on off, pushed towards covers.
12.5 : W Sundar to D Shanaka, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
12.6 : W Sundar to D Shanaka, This one is pushed to the left of the bowler for nothing. Excellent stuff from Sundar - 4-0-28-2.
Shardul Thakur is brought on after his sole over went for 27.
13.1 : S Thakur to U Tharanga, Thakur runs in from round the wicket and lands it on a length. Upul blocks.
13.2 : S Thakur to U Tharanga, Length ball angling in, Tharanga has a swipe across the line but misses.
13.3 : S Thakur to U Tharanga, Short in length, pulled away through mid-wicket for one.
13.4 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, Full on middle and leg, driven down to long on for one.
13.5 : S Thakur to U Tharanga, CHANCE DOWN! Rishabh Pant, the name which is associated with this one. This is short in length, Tharanga is hurried into the pull. Ends up getting it off the high end of the bat towards mid-wicket. Pant leaps full stretch to his right and gets a hand to it but fails to hold on. The ball rolls towards long on and a couple of runs are taken. Perhaps another fielder with a taller height could have done better.
13.6 : S Thakur to U Tharanga, Length ball on the pads, Tharanga fails to get bat and the ball falls down after striking him on the pads. Shanaka calls him through for a single and makes it. A leg bye it is. Meanwhile, a funny thing happens. Karthik expects a kick from Thakur while the bowler expects the keeper to bend and collect it. Neither does anything and that takes Dinesh by surprise.
Yuzvendra Chahal is back.
14.1 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, Wrong 'un outside off on a shorter length, Upul cuts it in front of point for a brace.
14.2 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, This time a lofted shot over mid-wicket is played for a single.
14.3 : Y Chahal to D Shanaka, Flighted ball on the stumps, wristed to the on side for one.
14.4 : Y Chahal to U Tharanga, OUT! Woodwork! This is flatter on a length around off, Tharanga hangs on the back foot and looks to heave it over the on side. Ends up missing the ball and finds his off stump pegged back. Chahal has this wonderful character of striking when the attack is on him. Does exactly the same now.
Thisara Perera is the next batter in for Sri Lanka. Though the card says 39 off 32 required, with two new batsmen in the middle, it could be anybody's game. A slip in place now.
14.5 : Y Chahal to T Perera, Floated on the stumps, defended off the front foot.
14.6 : Y Chahal to T Perera, Thisara opens his account with a punch through covers.
15.1 : S Thakur to T Perera, Short in length, Perera pulls it through mid-wicket for one.
15.2 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, Length ball outside off, pushed towards covers for nothing.
15.3 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, OUCH! That would have hurt. Thakur hurls a short length ball on the stumps, Dasun fails to pull that and gets hit on the hip.
15.4 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, Back of a length delivery again, Shanaka plays this a la a forehand shot in tennis. Seems to have got it off the toe end towards long on for one. Shanaka seems to be hurt, as he seems to crouch after taking that run.
15.5 : S Thakur to T Perera, This ball is pushed through mid-wicket for one.
15.6 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, Excellent over from Thakur comes to an end as just 3 came off this. This is banged short yet again, Shanaka is unable to slash it. 35 from 24 needed. The Lankans are 6 runs ahead than where India were at this point.
Vijay Shankar to bowl the 17th over. Right call? Our colleague here, Parth, doesn't seem to agree.
16.1 : V Shankar to T Perera, Trisection! Shankar runs in from round the wicket and hurls it full outside off, Perera looks to go over covers but ends up slicing it. Chahal runs back from covers, long off runs to his right and sweeper comes a bit to his left. But the ball lands in the centre of them and enables a brace.
16.2 : V Shankar to T Perera, Full in length, Perera gets it off the bottom half of the blade over the bowler for one.
16.3 : V Shankar to D Shanaka, WIDE! This is full and outside off, Shanaka doesn't bother playing at that.
V Shankar to D Shanaka, BEAMER! NOT A NO BALL, STRANGELY! Shanaka heaves it towards fine leg for a couple. All eyes are on the umpires but no signal from them. Lucky Shankar?
16.4 : V Shankar to D Shanaka, Full and outside off, Shanaka slices it over backward point for a brace.
16.5 : V Shankar to D Shanaka, Short and wide outside off, slashed over point for another two.
16.6 : V Shankar to D Shanaka, Length ball, flat-batted aerially to long off for a single. Shankar has bowled well here, 4 couples and a couple of singles, apart from a wide.
Jaydev Unadkat to bowl his third over.
17.1 : J Unadkat to D Shanaka, Unadkat comes from round the wicket and delivers a slow length ball. Dasun makes room to slash it but is deceived by the change of pace.
17.2 : J Unadkat to D Shanaka, FOUR! Shanaka belts this one! Length ball at a normal pace this time. Shanaka backs away and flat-bats it over covers for a boundary. Crucial one, as more 20 runs are needed off 16 balls.
17.3 : J Unadkat to D Shanaka, On a length on the stumps, Dasun misses his attempted pull.
17.4 : J Unadkat to D Shanaka, Another length ball, Shanaka comes down the track but fails to get bat on his attempted pull. The ball goes off his hips to the off side for a leg bye.
17.5 : J Unadkat to T Perera, WIDE! Full and well outside off, Perera fails to reach that. The umpire stretches his arms, that doesn't please the bowler one bit.
J Unadkat to T Perera, SIX! Telling blow? Full on off, Perera gets his front leg out of the way and smites it straight over long off. The ball clears the fence easily. Sri Lankans needed just one big over and this is the one it seems.
17.6 : J Unadkat to T Perera, FOUR! 10 runs off the last two balls and that should seal the deal for Sri Lanka. This is a low full toss on the stumps, Perera thumps it straight over the non-striker and holds the pose. The ball bounces just in front of the ropes and that brings down the runs required to 8 off the last two overs.
Shardul Thakur to bowl the penultimate over. Will he be able to take the game to the last over?
18.1 : S Thakur to D Shanaka, WIDE! This is sprayed down the leg side, Shanaka misses the flick.
S Thakur to D Shanaka, Full outside off, driven through covers for one.
18.2 : S Thakur to T Perera, Short in length, pulled away through mid-wicket for a brace. Just one hit away are the hosts from a win.
18.3 : S Thakur to T Perera, FOUR! Those are the winning runs! Thisara Perera's blade brings them. This is short in length, Perera pulls it through backward square leg. The ball speeds away to the fence, beating square leg to his left and fine leg to his right. SRI LANKA REGISTER THE FIRST WIN IN THE NIDAHAS TROPHY, A 5-WICKET WIN WITH 9 BALLS TO SPARE!
Sri Lanka, for a change, have got the better of the Indians in an international game! Yes, these words are rare to see. What stamps the odd nature of win is this - this is the first time India have lost a T20I against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
The hosts were on the money right from the outset. Their initial burst of 75 runs in the first 6 overs, their best in a T20I, helped them steamroll the opponents. Kusal Perera had the lion's share in the exploits. He smashed a quickfire 66 and that set the platform for them. They never looked back from that.
The others just had to chip in to mark their attendance after the 58-run partnership between Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka. The final rites were done by the twin all-rounder pair of Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka. They quelled any hopes of an Indian win in the series opener.
The Indian bowling came cropper tonight. Apart from the most-economical-of-the-lot Washington Sundar, who picked up a couple of wickets, the others disappeared to all parts of the ground. Yuzvendra Chahal also had two to his name, but he was a tad too expensive. That Shardul Thakur over of 27 runs was perhaps signs of things to come for the Indians tonight. That meant that Shikhar Dhawan's 90 went in vain. Let's see what the captains and the player of the match have to say...
The Man of the Match tonight is Kusal Perera for his belligerent knock. He begins by stating that this was his best innings. Reckons that after injuring himself, he went and played at the club level and got himself ready to the rigors of international cricket. Ends saying that the target was a stiff one but they were confident of chasing this down.
Rohit Sharma, the glum-faced skipper, states that they ended up with a par score and something that was enough to play with. Adds that some more acceleration was desirable towards the end with the bat. Concedes that the start that Sri Lanka got was instrumental in them gunning this total down. Reckons that sometimes things can go wrong and sounds hopeful of his boys learning from this outing. Mentions of having enough experience in their bowling line-up. He states that although the international
Dinesh Chandimal, the glee-looking captain, is elated to win against India after 7 games. Says that this is a good start for the tourney and the signs of things to come from them. Adds about taking this confidence going forward. About having a spring in his step in the game, he plays it down saying that the entire team gelled well and that made it easier for him. Praises their coach as well as the management for this win. After the chat, he goes on to take the match winner's trophy from the pres
That concludes the opening encounter of this Nidahas Trophy, 2018. The hosts began on the right note, getting the better of their Asian neighbors. Next up, Bangladesh and India face each other at the same venue. That clash is on International Women's Day. See you at 1900 local time (1330 GMT) then. Till then, take care! Adios amigos!