1st T20I, Colombo, July 25, 2021, 08:00 PM
164/5(20.0ov)
126/10(18.3ov)
India beat Sri Lanka by 38 runs
Right then! That's all from the first T20I and it is India who take a 1-0 lead in the 3-match T20I series. Sri Lanka need to pull their socks up if they want to level the series. The second T20I will be played on Tuesday, 27th July, 2021 at 2000 local (1430 GMT). Do join us then. Cheers and take care.
Shikhar Dhawan says that he felt that they were 10 to 15 runs short but is pleased with the win. Adds that they played well after losing the first wicket and till the 13th over they batted well but then lost the momentum. Goes onto say that Suryakumar Yadav is a great player and they enjoy watching him bat. States that Sri Lanka were playing well and he knew that their spinners will turn the ball and Yuzi bowled really well and everyone stood up on the day. Adds that Varun Chakravarthy did really well. States that Shaw is playing really well and he is sure that Shaw will come back in the next game. Adds that it is not easy to play Varun and he bowled brilliantly.
Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan skipper, says that 164 was a chasable total. Adds that the bowlers were brilliant. Mentions that things went wrong when Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka got out. States that the bowlers did an amazing job on this wicket and hopes that the boys will come out all gun-blazing in the next game. Tells that he is proud of the boys with the way they played.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar, the MAN OF THE MATCH, says that victory is the most important thing for him. Adds that he took time to adjust and execution was important. Tells that it was a good batting wicket. States the spinners bowled well. Mentions that he enjoyed all the 4 wickets.
Earlier in the day, India posted 164 on the board but they should have got more the way started. Suryakumar Yadav was the star with a fine 50 and there were some useful contributions from Shikhar Dhawan and Sanju Samson but they did not get a quick finish. Sri Lanka were excellent at the death but they failed with the bat and they ended up losing the first game by 38 runs. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony!
What about Sri Lanka? They started well with Avishka Fernando and Minod Bhanuka playing some lovely shots but Minod Bhanuka fell. Fernando looked good but he was done in by Chahal. Apart from Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka looked comfortable and scored a fine 44 before departing and that was the end of Sri Lanka's chances. They kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and that was it. Overall, a disappointing performance by the hosts.
India's bowling stepped up in the game! They were simply brilliant and that is what they needed. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Deepak Chahar were expensive at the start but after Krunal Pandya got the wicket of Minod Bhanuka, things changed. Yuzvendra Chahal started brilliantly and then continued to deliver a wonderful spell. Varun Chakravarthy was decent on his debut. In the death overs, Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar were brilliant with the latter ending up with 4 wickets. In the end, India completed a fine victory.
A brilliant performance from India as they have managed to defend 164! India now have started the T20I series with a win and they will be pleased with their performance. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, bowled so well but they just could not cope up in the run chase and they have been defeated quite comfortably in the end.
In over# 19
0W
1
0W
Bhuvneshwar Kumar 22/4(3.3)
18.3
W
OUT! CAUGHT! Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets his fourth! Length ball on off, Dushmantha Chameera pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. Krunal Pandya there settles under it and pouches it. INDIA WIN BY 38 RUNS
18.2
1
On a length on middle, Akila Dananjaya works it towards long on for a single.
Akila Dananjaya is the last man in.
18.1
W
OUT! TAKEN! India wrapping things up quickly! Length delivery on middle, Isuru Udana heaves it towards long on. Suryakumar Yadav completes the catch without any trouble. Bhuvneshwar Kumar bags his third.
In over# 18
0
1
0W
0
1
1
Varun Chakravarthy 28/1(4)
17.6
.
BEATEN! Flighted outside off, Chameera looks to defend but misses.
17.5
1
Loopy ball on middle, Chameera sweeps it to deep square leg and picks up two. Wait a minute, it is a short run so only a run will be given.
Dushmantha Chameera is the next man out in the middle.
17.4
W
OUT! STUMPED! Varun Chakravarthy gets his first wicket in international cricket. What a moment for him. Tossed up nicely on off, Dasun Shanaka strides forward and looks to defend but misses. Brilliant work from Ishan Kishan behind the sticks. Dasun Shanaka loses his balance and Kishan waits for it and then whips the bails off. The umpire takes it upstairs and the replay shows that Dasun Shanaka's feet were up in the air.
An appeal for stumping taken upstairs. Ishan Kishan looks confident. Let's see what happens.
