SL vs IND Ball by Ball Commentary

6:17 PM IST Right then. That is all from this game. Sri Lanka have been comprehensive and they have leveled the series. The door is upon for them to win the series, whereas, India will look to bounce back and seal this tour, with the T20I series win. The third and final T20I will be played on Thursday, 29th July 2021 at 8 pm local (2:30 pm GMT). Do join us then. Cheers!

6:17 PM IST The Sri Lankan captain, Dasun Shanaka says that they knew the wicket will be slow in the end. Says that the strategy was to go hard inside the Powerplay but it didn't go as planned. Says Dhananjaya de Silva and Chamika Karunaratne played well. Adds that he is happy all the players are putting their hands up in different conditions.

6:10 PM IST Shikhar Dhawan, the Indian captain says that the surface was not a surprise. Says that they knew that they are one batsman short but he is happy that they played well. Says that they were 10-20 runs short at the end. Adds that it shows a great character of the team to take the game till the last over.

6:16 PM IST DHANANJAYA DE SILVA IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that they were looking to win for the past couple of months and he is happy to contribute. Says that at that point, they just needed one over with 15 runs and they got the same. Tells that playing against India is tough and they held their nerve till the end. Opines that he wanted to bat until the end and he got that opportunity here and he took it with both hands.

6:03 PM IST ... Stay tuned for the Presentation ...

6:15 PM IST Earlier in the day, India started off nicely with the blade, but once the opening stand was broken, they could not really bounce back. Their run-scoring was at a slower rate and the inexperienced batting line-up kept losing wickets and ended on 132. It was a brilliant day for the Lankans with the ball, as their spinners rode the challenge and did well to restrict them to this total. In the end, Sri Lanka did enough to get the win and level the series.

6:02 PM IST India bowled very well, for a side, that had too much imbalance, to begin with, but could not do enough to win the game. Even though India could have used 6 bowlers in this game, they only used 5 of their bowlers. Varun Chakravarthy was on fire, finishing with figures of 4-0-18-1. Kuldeep Yadav was also very good, but was expensive in his last over, ending with 2 to his name. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rahul Chahar got one wicket too, not conceding too many runs as well. Only Chetan Sakariya was slightly expensive.

5:59 PM IST Sri Lanka did not start off in the best manner, as Avishka Fernando lost his wicket in the third over. Sadeera Samarawickrama and Minod Bhanuka started looking comfortable, but the former did not last long. Bhanuka kept one side to himself, but his partners kept losing wickets regularly. Bhanuka also lost his wicket and with the momentum going the way of India, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dhananjaya de Silva scored a few boundaries and pulled the game their way again. When Hasaranga and Mendis lost their wicket, it seemed that India would romp home, but Dhananjaya de Silva and Chamika Karunaratne played right until the last over and took their team over the line.

5:57 PM IST Sri Lanka have done it! They have successfully leveled the series and now, the final game of the 3-game T20I series will be the decider. Towards the end, it looked like India would do enough to close the game out but the hosts hang on and have won this game by 4 wickets!

5:56 PM IST Sri Lanka have won by 4 wickets! A fuller ball outside off, de Silva opens the face of his blade and steers it to short third man. Kuldeep Yadav there has a shy at the striker's end but misses it and the batters complete the single.

5:55 PM IST Another two taken! A short ball on middle, de Silva pulls it wide of deep square leg for a couple of runs. The scores are level. Just a single needed.

5:54 PM IST Two taken now! Good fielding too! A slower length ball outside off, de Silva cuts it to backward point. The fielder does well to dive to his right and save a couple of runs. 3 needed now.

5:53 PM IST TWO WIDES! A full ball, slanting across, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne looks to slash at it but misses. The keeper fumbles to carry it and a single is taken. 5 needed from 5 balls now!

5:52 PM IST Just a single. Slower length ball on off, de Silva chips it uppishly towards short fine leg. One run.

5:51 PM IST EDGY RUNS! A fuller, slower ball outside off. Chamika Karunaratne slices it over point for a couple of runs. 8 needed of the last over.

5:50 PM IST A length ball way outside off. Chamika Karunaratne shuffles across and misses his swing. He can't believe that it is not called a wide.

5:49 PM IST Just over! A length ball outside off, the knuckle ball. Chamika Karunaratne smashes it hard towards covers. Navdeep Saini times his jump but manages just the fingertips to it. The long off comes across and keeps it under two.

5:51 PM IST Navdeep Saini landed awkwardly on the last ball and is clutching onto his left arm. The physio comes out to have a look at him. Looks like Navdeep Saini is fine to continue.

5:47 PM IST SIX! BANGED! Is this the decisive hit in the contest? A short of a length ball on off. Chamika Karunaratne stands tall and pulls it all the way over mid-wicket for a biggie. Just 12 needed off 9 now!

5:46 PM IST These slower balls working really well for India! Length ball on off, tucked to mid-wicket for a single. He wanted a second but was sent back by Chamika Karunaratne.

5:45 PM IST Slower length ball outside off. Chamika Karunaratne slaps it to covers for a single.

5:45 PM IST Looked like it started to drizzle slightly heavily for a minute, as the covers were getting ready to come out. But, the rain seems to have subsided and the covers are not needed.

5:42 PM IST On middle, de Silva looks to flick but gets a leading edge over the bowler's head and towards mid off for a couple. 20 runs needed off the last 12 balls.

5:43 PM IST Bhuvneshwar Kumar to bowl the penultimate over.

5:43 PM IST FOUR! Beautiful played! A much needed boundary! A length ball outside off, de Silva opens his bat face and steers it through backward point for four.

5:41 PM IST A slower delivery, full and on middle. Chamika Karunaratne nudges it to mid-wicket. Sakaria himself runs across, dives and does well to allow just a single.

5:40 PM IST A short of a length ball on middle, de Silva tucks it on the leg side for a single.

5:41 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Chetan Sakariya gets his first wicket on his debut and Sri Lanka are 6 down now! Another slower length ball on middle and leg. Ramesh Mendis heaves it without much power. The ball goes high towards mid-wicket where Ruturaj Gaikwad runs ahead, settles under it and takes a simple catch. 28 needed in 16 balls.

5:39 PM IST Chamika Karunaratne walks out.

5:38 PM IST That misses the off pole by a whisker! A slower length ball, just around off. Mendis is too early on his heave and misses it.

5:37 PM IST Just a single to end the over! Quicker this time, outside off, on a fuller length. Mendis waits for it and taps it to short third man for a single. 28 needed now in 18 balls.

5:36 PM IST On the pads, flicked to deep square leg for one.

5:36 PM IST Full and outside off, driven to long off for a couple of runs.

5:36 PM IST LEG BYE! Angles it down on the pads. Mendis misses his flick. They take a leg bye off the pads towards the off side. Varun Chakravarthy optimistically appeals for it but was going down.

5:34 PM IST Shorter this time on middle. De Silva rocks back and pulls it to long on for a single.

5:34 PM IST Flatter and outside off, de Silva misses his cut. He is finding it difficult to get the middle.

5:34 PM IST Rahul Chahar is done for the night. Varun Chakravarthy to bowl out!

5:32 PM IST On middle, eased down to long on for a single. 34 needed now of last 4 oves.

5:32 PM IST In the air..safe! Another full ball on middle. Dhananjaya de Silva stays back and flicks it uppishly towards deep square leg. The fielder charges ahead but falls short of it. Two taken in the end.

5:31 PM IST Another slower length ball outside off. de Silva misses his push. Good bowling.

5:31 PM IST Sees Dhananjaya de Silva going for the reverse sweep. Kumar bowls a slower full ball outside off. Missed it completely.

5:30 PM IST Again fuller around off. Mendis nudges it to deep mid-wicket for another single. He is off the mark.

5:30 PM IST Full and on middle, tucked to square leg for a single.

5:29 PM IST Who will walk out now? It is Ramesh Mendis. Also, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is into the attack.

5:27 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Rahul Chahar has struck on the very last ball of his spell and the dangerman, Wanindu Hasaranga goes back here. Could this be the wicket that changes India's fortunes? This is served shortish and outside off, it is spinning away too. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to slash it away, but the ball kisses the outside edge and lobs towards backward point, where Bhuvneshwar Kumar takes a few steps ahead and pouches this. Rahul Chahar is pumped up and he glares at Hasaranga, who just looks at him, smirks, does a gesture of clapping his glove against the blade and walks back. Pressure, tension!

5:26 PM IST FOUR! You need a single boundary in every over and Wanindu Hasaranga gets Sri Lanka that boundary here. Tosses it up, landing full on off, Wanindu Hasaranga gets low and tonks this one over the bowler's head for a boundary.

5:25 PM IST Drags his length back and serves a short ball, on off, de Silva works it through covers for one.

5:24 PM IST Slower through the air, on off, de Silva taps it to the on side.

5:24 PM IST On a shortish length, on off, pulled to long on for a run.

5:23 PM IST Floated, on off, pushed ahead of point, for one.

5:23 PM IST Rahul Chahar is into the attack.

5:23 PM IST A quicker short one on the pads, Wanindu Hasaranga nudges this through mid-wicket and comes back for the second. A good over for Lanka, 15 off it. 46 needed in 36 balls!

5:21 PM IST Shorter, around off, nudged through square leg for one.

5:21 PM IST SIX! Now, Dhananjaya de Silva unleashes a big shot. Much needed. Tossed up, on middle, Dhananjaya de Silva just smokes this one over long on for a biggie.

5:20 PM IST Skips down the track again and lofts this ahead of the long off fielder. One run.

5:19 PM IST FOUR! There it is, the releasing of the pressure. Wanindu Hasaranga skips down the track, gets to the pitch of the ball and drills this to the left of Chetan Sakariya at long off. Chetan dives, but the ball sneaks underneath him, to the ropes.

5:18 PM IST A touch short, around off, tapped to point for a run.

5:17 PM IST Full and outside off. Dhananjaya de Silva mistimes his push to long on for a single to end the over. 61 runs required in 42 balls.

5:16 PM IST Around off, pushed to sweeper cover for another single.

5:16 PM IST Slower and flatter outside off. Dhananjaya de Silva cuts it to point for a quick single.

5:15 PM IST Very full now, on middle. Wanindu Hasaranga pushes it to long on for one.

5:15 PM IST Shorter and outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to cut but misses it.

5:15 PM IST Full and outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to push but gets an outside edge towards short third man.

5:14 PM IST Varun Chakravarthy is back into the attack.

5:13 PM IST Shortish and spinning in, Wanindu Hasaranga goes back and pushes this to covers. A really good over for Kuldeep and India!

5:13 PM IST Shortish and on leg, helped behind square on the leg side for one.

5:13 PM IST Who will walk out now? It is Wanindu Hasaranga.

5:12 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! Minod Bhanuka is sent back and Sri Lanka lose their fourth. The dropped chance does not prove too costly for the visitors. Pitches it up, fuller around off, tossed up too, Minod Bhanuka gets low and mows a slog sweep towards deep mid-wicket. No distance on this and Rahul Chahar takes it in the deep. Sri Lanka need a partnership here. 67 needed in 50 balls!

5:10 PM IST Tossed up, landing outside off, spins away as Bhanuka leaves it be.

5:10 PM IST On middle, the pull is dragged to deep mid-wicket for a brace.

5:09 PM IST DROPPED! Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the culprit. Bhanuka was the set batsman, but another chance goes missing. Floated, outside off, spins away, Minod Bhanuka comes down the track and only manages to slice this one over point. Bhuvneshwar Kumar chases after it, gets hit hand on the ball, but it pops out. A couple.

5:08 PM IST On middle, pushed back to the bowler.

5:07 PM IST Short, around off, MB goes back and punches to deep covers for a run.

5:07 PM IST Quicker googly outside off, the reverse swept is missed by Bhanuka.

5:06 PM IST Flighted again, swept hard to deep mid-wicket for a run.

5:06 PM IST Tossed up, landing fuller on off, heaved past covers for a couple of runs.

5:06 PM IST Floated, around off, spins away as de Silva misses his poke.

5:05 PM IST Tossed up on middle. de Silva flicks off the back foot to square leg for a single.

5:12 PM IST Was there an edge? Flatter ball, angles it down the leg side. de Silva seems to get an edge through as he looks to flick, to the keeper but Samson, behind fails to collect it.

5:03 PM IST Around off, pushed through covers for a single.

5:03 PM IST On middle. Dhananjaya de Silva sweeps it to square leg for a single. He is off the mark.

5:03 PM IST NOT OUT! Pitches it up, way outside off, spinning in. De Silva looks to push but gets beaten on the inside edge. Samson collects it and rattles the bail off. The TV umpire has a quick look at it and De Silva looks fine.

5:03 PM IST A late appeal for stumping. Replays show that Dhananjaya de Silva's back foot, never left the crease.

5:00 PM IST OUT! STUMPED! Another one bites the dust and Sri Lanka are 3 down now! Flatter ball, around the leg pole. Dasun Shanaka comes down the track and looks to flick it but gets beaten by the spin. The ball passes his hips and Sanju Samson behind, does the rest.

5:02 PM IST The third one falls. Dhananjaya de Silva is in.

4:59 PM IST Full and way outside off. Bhanuka slaps it to covers who does well to stop it. Single taken.

4:58 PM IST Shorter around leg, pulled away to square leg for one. 80 runs needed off 66 balls.

4:57 PM IST FOUR! A much-needed boundary for the Lankans. Bhanuka comes down the track and gets to the pitch of the ball, heaves it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

4:56 PM IST Tossed up, full on middle. Bhanuka sweeps it nicely towards deep square leg for two runs.

4:56 PM IST LEG BYE! Flatter and around leg. Shanaka goes for the reverse sweep this time but misses it. They take a leg bye as it goes off the pads towards fine leg.

4:55 PM IST Full again on middle. Bhanuka reverse sweeps it to short third man for one.

4:54 PM IST Pitches it up on middle. Shanaka sweeps it fine towards square leg for one.

4:53 PM IST Floated around off. Shanaka cuts it to point.

4:52 PM IST Shorter on off, pushed to covers.

4:52 PM IST Advances down the track and misses this full ball on off. Gets hit on the pads.

4:52 PM IST Around off, pushed to mid off for a single.

4:53 PM IST Appeal for LBW but not given! A flatter ball on middle and leg. Shanaka goes for the sweep but seems to get a glove on it. The ball rolls to the fine leg fence and they take a single. Samson and Kuldeep have a big chat but does not take the review. A big miss as replays show that there was no bat on this and also the wickets would go onto hit the wickets. Dasun Shanaka is handed a life!

4:49 PM IST Very full and on middle. Bhanuka drills it to long on for a single.

4:47 PM IST OUT! TIMBER! Spin works for India as well. Sadeera Samarawickrama would have been wise if he played on the front foot. A tossed up ball, googly, around off. Sadeer goes on the back foot and looks to punch but leaves a big gap between the bat and the body. The ball sneaks through and shatters the leg pole. Sri Lanka 2 down now. 94 needed in 78 balls.

4:50 PM IST Who comes in now? It is the skipper, Dasun Shanaka, who walks out.  Also, Kuldeep Yadav is into the attack!

4:47 PM IST Tossed up, on middle. Bhanuka clips off the back foot on the leg side for one.

4:46 PM IST Loopy ball, outside off, spinning away. Bhanuka looks to defend but misses.

4:46 PM IST Toad short this time, on middle. Sadeera rocks back and pulls it, does not middle it, over the bowler's head or a single.

4:45 PM IST Slightly shorter and outside off, Sadeera cuts it to point.

4:44 PM IST Full and on the pads. Bhanuka flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

4:43 PM IST Tossed up on off, it lands and spins away. Sadeera cuts it to point. End of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka are at 36 for 1.

4:42 PM IST Flatter and on middle. Minod Bhanuka clears his front foot and clips it to square leg for one more.

4:41 PM IST Darted on the pads, nudged to mid-wicket for one.

4:41 PM IST On middle. This is tucked on the leg side for one.

4:40 PM IST Slightly shorter again around leg. Bhanuka misses his flick.

4:40 PM IST FOUR! Not the start Rahul Chahar wanted! Starts with a shorter ball on middle. Bhanuka rocks back and pulls it through mid-wicket for a boundary.

4:40 PM IST Rahul Chahar to roll his arm.

4:38 PM IST Slower through the air, on middle, worked to the on side, for a run. 104 needed in 90 balls.

4:38 PM IST Around middle, SS goes back and pushes it to covers for a quick single.

4:37 PM IST Floated, around off, gently pushed to covers.

4:37 PM IST Darted on the pads, Sadeera Samarawickrama looks to pull but he misses his shot.

4:36 PM IST Googly, spinning in from around off, pushed to point.

4:35 PM IST FOUR! Not the start that Varun Chakravarthy would have wanted to his spell. Flatter, around off, Sadeera Samarawickrama goes back and slashes this past short third man for a boundary.

4:35 PM IST Varun Chakravarthy is into the attack.

4:34 PM IST A back of a length ball, on off, MB goes back and keeps it out.

4:33 PM IST Outside off, punched to covers.

4:33 PM IST FOUR! Played very fine. On the pads, on a length, Minod Bhanuka goes back and tickles this to the fine leg fence.

4:32 PM IST Well fielded by Chahar. Sadeera Samarawickrama walks down the track and pushes it to the cover region. Rahul Chahar moves to his right and stops the ball. A single.

4:32 PM IST Leg bye. A back of a length ball, on off, Minod misses his nudge to the leg side and the ball takes the pad and goes to point, for a leg bye,

4:31 PM IST FOUR! A brilliant way to start the 4th over. Chetan Sakariya is greeted to his second over, with a boundary. A slower ball in pace, fuller, around off, Minod Bhanuka waits for the ball and then tonks this one over the mid on fielder. Boundary.

4:29 PM IST A good over for the Men in Blue comes to an end! Length around off, defended out.

4:29 PM IST Edgy run! Around off, on a length, Bhanuka looks to work this away, but the ball takes the edge and goes to third man, for a run.

4:29 PM IST Who will walk out now? It is Sadeera Samarawickrama.

4:28 PM IST OUT! CAUGHT! What a brilliant catch and India gets their first wicket. Chahar judged it beautifully and India gets an early inspiration, courtesy Rahul Chahar. A good length ball, on the pads, Avishka Fernando flicks this one aerially towards the fine leg region. Rahul Chahar runs to his right, takes the catch, just at the edge of the ropes. Realizes that he is going to go over the ropes, due to the momentum. He throws the ball back out, he runs in, gets back out and pouches this one. The third umpire is called to check if this is a clean catch and replays show that it is. Avishka Fernando walks back and India need some more of these. 121 needed in 104 balls.

4:24 PM IST Good length ball, on the pads. Bhanuka nudges it towards square leg for another single.

4:24 PM IST On a length, outside off. Fernando guides it towards third man for a single.

4:23 PM IST A length ball, on the pads, Fernando flicks it towards mid-wicket.

4:22 PM IST Really good delivery to end! This starts around off and then shapes away. Bhanuka looks to push at it but is beaten.

4:22 PM IST On off, this is guided down to third man for one.

4:21 PM IST FOUR! Too full and put away! This is very full and on off, Fernando leans into it and strokes it through covers. Lovely stroke and the last two balls releases all the pressure that was building.

4:20 PM IST FOUR! That was a risky stroke! He had to get bat on that! Fernando walks right across and this one tails back in from around off. Fernando works it through backward square leg for a boundary.

4:19 PM IST Slower in pace, around off, pushed to the covers.

4:18 PM IST A length ball, around off, pushed back to the bowler.

4:18 PM IST Chetan Sakariya will bowl from the other end.

4:18 PM IST Navdeep Saini to bowl from the other end!

4:17 PM IST So, just a run off the first over! A length ball, angling away, Minod defends it towards covers.

4:16 PM IST Avishka Fernando and Sri Lanka are off the mark! Outside off, length ball, steered to third man for a run.

4:15 PM IST Fourth dot on the trot! Shaping away, in the fourth stump channel, Avishka Fernando taps this one to the backward point region.

4:15 PM IST Again! An outswinger in the channel outside off, Fernando looks to play at this, but pulls out very late.

4:14 PM IST Some away movement noticed! Outside off on a length, the ball shapes away as Avishka Fernando looks to defend, and Fernando lets it be.

4:14 PM IST A length delivery, angling away, around off, Avishka Fernando looks to defend and pokes it to the off side.