Physically challenged T20 series between Sri Lanka and India is evenly poised as both teams have won one game each in the 3-match series. Both matches took place at the BRC grounds on the 24 th and the 23 rd .
- 1 st T20
India won the toss and decided to bat first. They got off to a flying start with the two openers posting 88 runs for the 1 st wicket. Wicket keeper batsman Jeet and Balraj scored runs in brisk pace as they laid the foundation for their side.
Balraj missed out on a half century when he was dismissed by Gayan for 47 runs. However, the hosts managed to put a halt to the run flow when they struck 5 times in a space of 5 overs while giving away only 17 runs. India’s lower middle rose to occasion and somehow took the total to 149 runs in their allocated 20 overs.
In reply, Sri Lankan’s kept loosing wickets in succession which allowed India to take the upper hand. EMAD Ekanayake started things off with a brisk cameo of 25 at the top, apart from him the only notable contribution came from WMND Ratnayake who scored 26 runs in the middle. They needed 12 runs in the final over but Kailash who bowled the final over managed to keep it down to only 8 runs which gave the visitors the victory by just 3 runs.
INDIA 149/8 (20) Balraj 47, Jeet 34, Kailash 29, Udara Indrajith 3/26, JMR udugama 2/23
SRI LANKA 146/6 (20) WMND Ratnayake 26, EMAD Ekanayke 25, Kailash 2/35
- 2 nd T20
Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field first. The visitors lost their wicketkeeper batsman in the very first over, but a 52-run stand between Balraj and Suvro resurrected the Indian innings. Balraj once again scored a brisk innings on 41 off just 20 balls. Suvro played the anchor role in the innings as he carried the bat through to remain unbeaten on 64. India managed to post 165 for the loss of 5 wickets in their allocated 20 overs.
In reply, the Lankans too started off with a wicket in the very first over but their first drop batsman PG Gayan and Nilanka Fernando steadied the ship for them. Gayan top scored with 44 but he left the crease when the hosts still needed 75 runs off the last ten overs. It was Udara Indrajith and RMN Kumara who joined together for an unbeaten 53 runs stand to guide the Lankans to the target with 5 balls to spare. With this win the series is at deadlock with 1 win each for both teams. The third and final game will be played tomorrow at the BRC grounds to decide who will take the trophy home.
INDIA 165/5 (20) Suvro 64*, Balraj 41, RMN kumara 2/19
SRI LANKA 166/5 (19.1) PG Gayan 44, RMN Kumara 29*, Udara Indrajith 26*, Randinder Pal 1/22
