SL vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

6:17 PM IST 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.

6:19 PM IST 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.

6:14 PM IST 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.

6:15 PM IST 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.

6:01 PM IST 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!

6:00 PM IST 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.

6:01 PM IST 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.

5:57 PM IST 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.

6:00 PM IST 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

5:56 PM IST On a length on middle, Akila Dananjaya works it towards long on for a single.

5:55 PM IST Akila Dananjaya is the last man in.

5:54 PM IST 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.

5:53 PM IST BEATEN! Flighted outside off, Chameera looks to defend but misses.

5:52 PM IST 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.

5:51 PM IST Dushmantha Chameera is the next man out in the middle.

5:52 PM IST 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.

5:49 PM IST An appeal for stumping taken upstairs. Ishan Kishan looks confident. Let's see what happens.

5:49 PM IST On middle, blocked out.

5:49 PM IST Loopy ball on leg, Isuru Udana looks to work it on the leg side but gets an inside edge. The ball rolls behind the keeper. Varun Chakravarthy appeals for an LBW but nothing from the umpire.

5:49 PM IST Tossed up on off, Shanaka lifts it towards long off for a single.

5:47 PM IST Isuru Udana is the next man in.

5:48 PM IST OUT! DRAGGED ON! Length delivery outside off, Chamika Karunaratne looks to drive it but is late on his shot. The ball goes off the inner half and rattles the stumps. Sri Lanka's hopes diminishing here. 43 needed in 18 balls.

5:45 PM IST Length ball on leg, Chamika Karunaratne moves across and looks to flick but misses.

5:45 PM IST Full and on off, eased down to long off for a single.

5:44 PM IST SIX! WHACKED! A juicy full toss on off, Dasun Shanaka muscles it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum.

5:44 PM IST Outside off, Chamika Karunaratne advances down the track and pushes it towards covers for a run.

5:45 PM IST Serves a length ball on off, Shanaka dabs it towards point for a run.

5:42 PM IST Length ball on off, Chamika Karunaratne pushes it past point for a couple of runs.

5:41 PM IST Chamika Karunaratne is the next man in.

5:41 PM IST OUT! BOWLED! Deepak Chahar is pumped up! Good length delivery on middle and leg, Wanindu Hasaranga makes room for himself and moves on the leg side. He looks to lift it straight over the bowler's head but misses. The ball goes under his bat and shatters the stumps. This is India's game to lose now from here on.

5:39 PM IST Short ball on middle, Wanindu Hasaranga sways away from it.

5:38 PM IST OUT! TAKEN! Asalanka was looking good but has to depart! That's the wicket India wanted. Slower delivery on off, Charith Asalanka pulls it towards deep mid-wicket. It lands just inside the ropes as Prithvi Shaw gobbles it up. Deepak Chahar gives a wicked look to him after the wicket. Half the side back in the hut for Sri Lanka. 54 needed in 27 balls.

5:38 PM IST Wanindu Hasaranga is the next man in.

5:36 PM IST WIDE! Way too outside off, Asalanka leaves it alone. Wide given.

5:35 PM IST On a length on off, Shanaka taps it towards backward point for a single.

5:35 PM IST Full and on the pads, Shanaka tucks it toward deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

5:33 PM IST Loopy ball outside off, Shanaka drives it to cover and takes a quick run.

5:32 PM IST Floated on off, Shanaka uses his feet and then defends it to cover.

5:32 PM IST Flatter ball outside off, Shanaka looks to cut but misses.

5:32 PM IST Tossed up on middle, Asalanka looks to sweep but it goes off the top edge and over the keeper for one.

5:31 PM IST Exceptional piece of bowling! Googly around off, Asalanka looks to defend but misses.

5:31 PM IST Floated on off, Shanaka sweeps it to short fine leg for one.

5:29 PM IST FOUR! This is excellent batting! Loopy ball on middle, Asalanka sweeps it to deep square leg for a boundary.

5:29 PM IST On middle, worked to the leg side for one.

5:28 PM IST Flatter ball on off, guided to short third man for one.

5:28 PM IST Full on middle, Shanaka nudges it down to long on for one.

5:27 PM IST Full toss on middle, Asalanka flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

5:27 PM IST SIX! Asalanka is playing a gem of a knock here! Tossed up on middle, Asalanka powers it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

5:27 PM IST Dasun Shanaka is the new batsman in.

5:25 PM IST OUT! TIMBER! Bandara's struggle is over! He was not getting his timing right at all and Sri Lanka lose their 4th. Slower ball around middle, Bandara looks to pull but is early into the shot and he misses. The ball though does not and hits the top of middle stump.

5:24 PM IST Good length ball outside off, Asalanka guides it to short third man for one.

5:24 PM IST Back of a length ball on the pads, Asalanka clips it to the deep square leg region for two.

5:23 PM IST FOUR! Good shot! Full on off, Asalanka leans and lifts it over extra cover for a boundary.

5:22 PM IST Good length ball on middle, Bandara plays it to long on for one.

5:23 PM IST Slower ball around middle, Bandara looks to swing it away but misses.

5:21 PM IST Hardik Pandya is back into the attack. Went for 9 in his first over.

5:19 PM IST Flatter ball outside off, Asalanka looks to guide it to third man but fails to get any bat on it.

5:18 PM IST Flatter ball on middle, Bandara works it to mid-wicket for a single.

5:18 PM IST Flatter ball around off, Bandara looks to defend but gets an inside edge onto the pads

5:17 PM IST Tossed up on off, Asalanka looks to flick but it goes off the leading edge to point for one.

5:16 PM IST SIX! Just over the fielder! Tossed up on the pads, Asalanka lifts it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

5:16 PM IST Flighted on off, Bandara hammers it to long off for one.

5:12 PM IST Full on middle, Bandara sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

5:11 PM IST WIDE! Floated way outside off, Bandara lets it go. Wided.

5:11 PM IST Flatter ball on the pads, nudged to short fine leg for one.

5:10 PM IST Tossed up on middle, Bandara sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

5:10 PM IST Flatter ball outside off, Bandara pushes it to point.

5:09 PM IST Flatter on middle, Charith works it to square leg for one.

5:09 PM IST FOUR! Valiant effort in the deep but in vain! Loopy ball on the pads, Asalanka sweeps it to backward square leg. Shaw comes across but fails to stop it. A boundary.

5:08 PM IST Back of a length on off, Bandara nudges it towards deep mid-wicket for a brace. Good comeback from Hardik Pandya after getting hit for a six of the first delivery. 9 runs coming from it. Sri Lanka are 64/3 at the halfway mark. 101 needed in 60 balls.

5:07 PM IST Slower and on off, Bandara taps it to backward point.

5:06 PM IST Length delivery on off, Bandara hops and works it on the leg side.

5:05 PM IST Short ball on middle, Ashen Bandara looks to pull but fails to connect anything to it.

5:05 PM IST On a length on middle, Asalanka works it off the inner half of his bat towards mid-wicket. A run taken.

5:04 PM IST SIX! CRUNCHED! Short of a length on middle, Charith Asalanka stands tall and deposits it over deep mid-wicket for a maximum. Welcome to the attack Hardik Pandya!

5:04 PM IST Hardik Pandya is into the attack now.

5:03 PM IST Floated it up on off, Bandara pushes it towards covers.

5:02 PM IST Tossed it up outside off, Ashen Bandara gets down on his knees and looks to sweep but misses.

5:02 PM IST Slower through the air outside off, Asalanka drags it towards deep mid-wicket for a single.

5:01 PM IST Tossed up on off, Bandara pushes it towards covers for a run.

5:01 PM IST Short and on middle, Asalanka pulls it towards deep square leg for a single.

5:00 PM IST Flatter and quicker on off, Asalanka looks to cut but misses.

5:00 PM IST JAFFA! Snorter of a delivery on off, came back sharply. Ashen Bandara looks to defend but gets beaten on the inside edge.

4:59 PM IST Outside off, Asalanka taps it to backward point for one.

4:58 PM IST Good length ball on off, Asalanka works it to mid off.

4:58 PM IST Length ball on off, Bandara guides it to third man for a single.

4:58 PM IST On a length on off, punched towards covers.

4:57 PM IST Ashen Bandara is the next man in.

4:58 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Wickets in quick succession for India! Length ball on middle, Avishka Fernando pulls it towards deep square leg. Sanju Samson is there to take the catch and holds onto it. Needless shot from Avishka Fernando. He threw his wicket away. Bhuvneshwar Kumar gets a wicket in his new spell.

4:55 PM IST Tossed up on leg, Charith Asalanka looks to flicks but misses. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ishan Kishan think it came off the bat and make an appeal. But nothing from the umpire.

4:54 PM IST Loopy ball on off, Asalanka blocks it out.

4:55 PM IST Slower through the air on off, Fernando pushes it towards covers for one.

4:54 PM IST On middle, nudged to mid-wicket for one.

4:53 PM IST Charith Asalanka comes out to bat now.

4:53 PM IST OUT! Cleaned him up! Yuzvendra Chahal doesn't fail to impress! Bowls a tossed up delivery on middle, Dhananjaya de Silva is caught at the crease. No feet movement from him. He looks to flick but misses. The ball spins away and hits the top of the middle stump. Yuzvendra Chahal is delighted and Sri Lanka lose another. Dhananjaya de Silva walks back to the shed.

4:50 PM IST Tossed up on middle, Dhananjaya de Silva lifts it towards long on. The fielder there does well to make a stop. Two taken.

4:50 PM IST Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack.

4:49 PM IST Tossed up on leg, Dhananjaya de Silva swings it towards deep square leg for a single. Excellent start from the mystery spinner on his international debut. Only 2 runs coming from the over. End of the Powerplay as well. Sri Lanka are 46/1.

4:49 PM IST Flighted delivery on middle, Dhananjaya de Silva defends it back to the bowler.

4:48 PM IST That missed the leg stump by inches! Tossed up on leg, Dhananjaya de Silva moves across and looks to paddle scoop it but misses. Ishan Kishan does well behind the sticks to collect it.

4:47 PM IST Floated it up on middle, Fernando clips it around the corner for one.

4:47 PM IST Loopy ball on middle, pushed back to the bowler.

4:46 PM IST Tossed up on off, Fernando pushes it back to the bowler.

4:46 PM IST Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack. Can he make an impact on his debut?

4:45 PM IST FOUR! Nicely played! Floated on middle, de Silva uses his feet and then lifts it over mid on for a boundary.

4:45 PM IST On middle, nudged to the leg side for a single.

4:44 PM IST Flatter ball on middle, Fernando tucks it to deep mid-wicket for a couple.

4:44 PM IST TWO WIDES! Full down the leg side, de Silva looks to sweep but misses. Kishan fails to stop it and the batters take an extra run.

4:43 PM IST Quicker ball outside off, de Silva looks to play it on the leg side but misses.

4:43 PM IST Tossed up on middle, Fernando works it to mid-wicket for a single.

4:43 PM IST Flatter on middle and leg, de Silva tucks it to deep mid-wicket for one.

4:42 PM IST Full on the pads, Avishka nudges it to mid-wicket.

4:41 PM IST FOUR! Whacked! Full on off, Fernando smacks it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

4:41 PM IST Full on middle, Fernando pushes it to mid on.

4:40 PM IST On middle, worked to mid-wicket.

4:43 PM IST FOUR! Terrific shot from Fernando! Good length ball outside off, Fernando cuts it over the point fielder for a boundary. Yadav did get a hand to it but it was a tough chance.

4:43 PM IST Full on off, Fernando pushes it to cover.

4:38 PM IST Flatter on middle, Fernando punches it to deep mid-wicket for one.

4:37 PM IST Floated on middle, Dhananjaya de Silva flicks it to deep square leg for one.

4:37 PM IST Flatter ball on middle, de Silva pushes it back to the bowler.

4:37 PM IST Dhananjaya de Silva walks out to bat at No.3.

4:36 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! The move to bring Krunal Pandya on in the third over has worked wonders as he fetches a wicket in his first over. Krunal Pandya bowls a flatter ball on middle, Bhanuka makes room and then looks to go over cover but hits it straight to Suryakumar Yadav at cover. He takes it and India are pumped up.

4:34 PM IST Flatter on middle, AF works it to square leg for one.

4:34 PM IST Loopy ball outside off, Fernando lifts it over the cover fielder for a couple of runs.

4:34 PM IST Krunal Pandya comes into the attack. He replaces Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

4:32 PM IST FOUR! It is not going right for India at the moment! Full toss on the pads, Bhanuka flicks it to the deep square leg region. Krunal Pandya comes across, slides but fails to stop it. A boundary.

4:32 PM IST Full on off, Fernando pushes it to third man for one.

4:32 PM IST Review time! Avishka Fernando have taken a review for caught behind. Ultra Edge confirms there is a flat line as the ball passes the bat. Now, the third umpire checks for a possible LBW. The Ball Tracker shows wickets missing. The on-field decision has been reversed.

4:33 PM IST NOT OUT! It has gone off the pads and Avishka Fernando survives. Brilliant delivery though from Deepak Chahar. Good length ball around off, Fernando looks to defend but seems to have gotten an edge. Deepak Chahar appeals and up goes the finger. Fernando takes the review immediately. The Ultra Edge rolls in and it shows that there is no bat and it has gone off the pads.

4:29 PM IST DROPPED! Hardik Pandya is not having a good game! This should have been taken. Good length ball outside off, Bhanuka smacks it to cover. Hardik Pandya is stationed there but he fails to hold on. A single taken.

4:28 PM IST Good length ball outside off, Bhanuka looks to cut but misses.

4:27 PM IST FOUR! This is nicely played by Bhanuka! Good length ball outside off, Bhanuka shuffles across and paddles it to fine leg for a boundary.

4:27 PM IST Full outside off, Bhanuka looks to drive but it goes off the outside edge to third man for one.

4:27 PM IST Deepak Chahar to bowl from the other end.

4:26 PM IST WIDE! Good length ball down the leg side, Bhanuka looks to flick but misses. Wided.

4:25 PM IST On a length on middle, Bhanuka looks to flick but misses and gets hit on the pads.

4:25 PM IST Good length ball outside off, Bhanuka looks to cut but fails to get any bat on it. Wided.

4:23 PM IST Good length ball outside off, Fernando guides it to third man for one.

4:23 PM IST Good length ball on the pads, Fernando works it to deep square leg for a couple.

4:22 PM IST Good length ball on middle, Fernando defends it back to the bowler.

4:23 PM IST EDGED AND FOUR! Good start from Bhuvneshwar Kumar but is unlucky! Good length ball around off, Fernando looks to whack it but it goes off the outside edge and it flies over first slip for a boundary.