India lose to Lanka in Nidahas Trophy opener despite Dhawan’s 90
India lose to Sri Lanka by five wickets in Nidahas Trophy opener despite Dhawan’s 90
India: R. Sharma c Mendis b Chameera 0, S. Dhawan c Perera b Gunathilaka 90, S. Raina b Fernando 1, M. Pandey c Gunathilaka b Mendis 37, R. Pant c Fernando b Chameera 23, D. Karthik ( not out) 13. Extras: ( b 1, lb 3, w 6) 10. Total: ( for 5 wkts, in 20 overs) 174. FoW: 1- 1, 2- 9, 3- 104, 4- 153, 5- 174. Bowling: Chameera 4- 0- 33- 2 ( 1w), Fernando 3- 0- 38- 1 ( 2w), Dananjaya 4- 0- 37- 0 ( 1w), Perera 3- 0- 25- 0, Mendis 3- 0- 21- 1 ( 2w), Gunathilaka 3- 0- 16- 1.
Sri Lanka: D. Gunathilaka c Pant b Unadkat 19, K. Mendis c Dhawan b Washington Sundar 11, Kusal Perera st Karthik b Sundar 66, D. Chandimal b Chahal 14, U. Tharanga b Chahal 0, Dasun Shanaka ( not out) 15, Thisara Perera ( not out) 22.
Extras: ( lb 4, w 6, nb1) 11. Total: ( for 5 wkts, in 18.3 overs) 175.
FoW: 1- 12, 2- 70, 3- 98, 4- 127, 5- 136. Bowler: Unadkat 3- 0- 35- 1 ( 2wd), Sundar 4- 028- 2 ( 1w), Thakur 3.3- 0- 42- 0 ( 1w, 1nb), Chahal 4- 0- 37- 2 ( 1w), Shankar 2- 0- 15- 0 ( 1w), Raina 2- 0- 14- 0. Colombo, March 6: Sri Lanka cruised to a fluent, five- wicket victory in their opening match of the Nidahas T20 tri- nation tournament here on Monday, chasing down the 174- run target posted by Rohit Sharma’s men.
After a Shikhar Dhawan special ( 90, 49 balls), it was the turn of the Perera duo — Kusal and Thisara — who slam- banged their way to ensure a Sri Lankan victory in just 18.3 overs.
After dangerman Kusal Perera ( 66, 37 balls, 6x4, 4x6) had set the stage, Thisara ( 22 not out, 10 balls, 2x4, 1x6) along with Dasun Shanaka ( 15 not out, 18 b) collected 39 runs in an unbeaten sixth- wicket stand, to guide the hosts home.
Needing 24 from three overs, Thisara picked up a six and a four off Jaydev Unadkat ( 1/ 35) in the 18th over itself.
Washington Sundar had figures of 2/ 28, while Chahal chipped in with 2/ 37 from his four overs.
Earlier, Dhawan continued his fine run in limited overs format, smashing 90 off 49 balls as India shrugged off a poor start to post a competitive 174/ 4.
Dhawan hammered six sixes and as many fours in an entertaining effort which came after the early loss of captain Rohit Sharma ( 0) and Suresh Raina ( 1).
Rohit fell to a spectacular backward running catch from Jeevan Mendis off Dushmantha Chameera on the fourth ball of the innings.
It became 9/ 2 as Raina saw his timber rattled off a full toss from Nuwan Pradeep after he backed away outside the leg stump and exposed all three stumps.
Dhawan then gave the innings a much- needed boost with the help of Manish Pandey ( 37 off 35) as they shared a 95- run stand for the third wicket.
The stylish left- hander also had luck on his side en route to his fifth T20 half century as a top edge off consecutive balls sailed over the boundary ropes. Sri Lanka bowlers too helped the Indian team’s cause by offering way too many loose balls.
Dhawan got into the act with back- to- back fours off Pradeep in the fifth over before top- edging him over the wicketkeeper and long leg for consecutive sixes in the ninth over.