SL RATTLE INDIA
Sri Lanka handed India a reality check, winning the first match of the T20 series by a comfortable five- wicket margin here on Tuesday.
Chasing 102, the Lankans stuttered in phases but held on well to get past the line with two full overs to spare, a comfortable margin given the 20- over format.
Skipper Dinesh Chandimal led from the front with a run- a- ball 35 and it was left to Milinda Siriwardana ( 21 not out, 14 balls) to hit the winning runs. Ashish Nehra and R. Ashwin took two wickets apiece.
Earlier, even without key players, the Lankans lived up to their reputation of World T20 champions as they gave M. S. Dhoni and his men a jolt, bowling the hosts out for a paltry 101 with seven balls to spare.
Ashwin was India’s top scorer, unbeaten on 31 runs.
Sri Lanka’ star was 22year- old debutant Kasun Rajitha, who finished with 3/ 29. Along with Dasun Shanaka ( 3/ 16), they ripped open the Indian batting order on a green Pune pitch which assisted the bowlers.
Rohit Sharma, who had a good outing in Australia, went mistimed a straight drive to mid- off. It was Rajitha’s first T20 wicket, who then removed Ajinkya Rahane ( 4).
Rajitha along with the Sri Lankan pacers were spot on, and did not give away any room. The only option left for the hosts was to take risks, which ultimately did not pay off.
None of the Indian top order fired. Dhawan too didn’t find his mojo adding just nine runs to the target after Rajitha proudly sent the Indian southpaw back to the pavilion.
Suresh Raina, who survived a couple of chances after being dropped early in the game, looked promising with an aggressive approach.
But Dasun Shanaka’s in- swinging ball was too hot to handle for Raina, who departed for 20 runs, an innings that saw one boundary and a six each.
India skipper Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh left fans in disappointment. Trying to pull a short ball, Dhoni found the edge to be dismissed for just 2 runs.
Yuvraj ( 10) too was a bit shaky in the middle. India’s 2011 World Cup hero departed after Dushmantha Chameera took a brilliant catch to get rid of the Indian allrounder caught and bowled.
Sachithra Senanayake claimed a wicket of allrounder Jadeja ( 6), trapping the Saurashtra player with a tossed delivery.