India beat SL by 69 runs in Ranchi T20 to level three-match series 1-1 | Cricket - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

India beat SL by 69 runs in Ranchi T20 to level three-match series 1-1

PTI | By, Ranchi
Feb 12, 2016 11:00 PM IST

India regained their winning touch with a spectacular all-round display as they defeated Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the second T20 International to level the three match series in Ranchi on Friday.

India regained their winning touch with a spectacular all-round display as they defeated Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the second T20 International to level the three match series in Ranchi on Friday.

India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the second Twenty20 match between India and Sri Lanka.(AFP Photo)
India's Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the second Twenty20 match between India and Sri Lanka.(AFP Photo)

Shikhar Dhawan (51 off 25) smashed his maiden fifty in T20 Internationals to fire India to 196/6 and the home team’s strong batting effort came despite Thisara Perera’s hat-trick in the penultimate over of the innings.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The other notable performances in the Indian innings came from Rohit Sharma (43 off 36), Hardik Pandya (27 off 12) and Suresh Raina (30 off 19). Sri Lanka could never recover from a poor start and ended at 127/9 in 20 overs.

The visitors made a mess of the steep chase by losing their first three wickets for 16 runs.

Star spinner Ravichandran Ashwin struck in the first legitimate ball of the innings with Dhoni pulling off a split second stumping to send back Tillakaratne Dilshan. Ashwin had started his spell with two wides.

Old horse Ashish Nehra had Seekkuge Prasanna on the very first ball of his opening spell before inducing an edge from opener Danushka Gunathilaka to leave Sri Lanka tottering.

Chamara Kapugedera (32) and captain Dinesh Chandimal (31) shared a brisk 52-run stand for the fourth wicket before Ravindra Jadeja got rid of them in successive balls to dash all hopes of a Sri Lankan comeback. Dhoni displayed another quickfire stumping to send Chandimal back in the dressing room.

Earlier, Sri Lanka put the hosts in to bat for the second game in a row and Indian openers were on fire from the word go. Unlike the greenish deck for the first T20 in Pune, the dry pitch here aided the strokeplay they are known for.

Pacer Kasun Rajitha, who troubled the famed Indian batting on his international debut in Pune, proved to be expensive this time. The 22-year-old bowled short and wide on the very first ball of the match and Rohit comfortably dispatched it to the point boundary.

Dhawan got going with a couple of delightful sixes. He flicked pacer Perera over mid-wicket before sweeping spinner Sachithra Senanayake in the following over for another maximum. There was no stopping Dhawan after that as he got to his maiden fifty in 22 balls.

Rohit did not mind watching Dhawan demolishing the opposition bowlers from the other and by the end of six overs, India had to raced to 70 for no loss.

Sri Lanka badly needed a breakthrough to stop the onslaught of the dangerous opening duo and it was provided by pacer Dushmantha Chameera, who had Dhawan caught behind with a sharp and straight rising ball. The southpaw thoroughly entertained the Ranchi crowd with his cracking innings that comprised seven fours and two sixes.

Unlock a world of Benefits with HT! From insightful newsletters to real-time news alerts and a personalized news feed – it's all here, just a click away!- Login Now!
Catch all the Latest RCB Unbox 2024 LIVE, Cricket News, Live Cricket Score and IPL 2024 Schedule, match updates along with Cricket Schedule, Purple Cap in IPL 2024, Orange Cap in IPL 2024 and other related updates on Hindustan Times Website and APPs
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On