| 0.4 : 0.4: 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. |
| 1.3 : 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. |
| 1.6 : 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. |
| 3.3 : 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. |
| 4.1 : 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 : 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. |
| 4.6 : 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. |
| 6.2 : 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. |
| 7.3 : 7.3: J Mendis to M Pandey, SIX! Huge! Tossed up and Pandey slogs sweeps this over mid-wicket for a biggie. |
| 8.2 : 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 : 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. |
| 10.5 : 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. |
| 11.1 : 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. |
| 11.3 : 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. |
| 12.4 : 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? |
| 14.2 : 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. |
| 14.5 : 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. |
| 15.4 : 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. |
| 16.1 : 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. |
| 16.6 : 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. |
| 17.6: 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. |
| 19.2 : 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 : 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. |
| 19.5 : 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 : 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! |
| 0.4 : 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. |
| 1.1 : 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. |
| 1.3 : 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. |
| 1.5 : 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! |
| 2.1 : 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 : 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 : 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 : 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. |
| 2.5 : 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. |
| 2.5: 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. |
| 3.6 : 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. |
| 4.3 : 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. |
| 4.5 : 4.5: J Unadkat to D Gunathilaka, FOUR! On the pads of Gunathilaka who works it down the leg side for a boundary. |
| 4.6 : 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? |
| 6.3 : 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. |
| 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. |
| 8.5 : 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. |
| 10.3 : 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. |
| 10.5 : 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. |
| 11.2 : 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. |
| 12.3 : 12.3: 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. |
| 14.4 : 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. |
| 17.2 : 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. |
| 17.5 : 17.5: 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 : 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. |
| 18.3 : 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! |
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