Sri Lanka
T20: Suryakumar, Axar blitz goes in vain as Sri Lanka level series
Pune: Valiant fifties by Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel went in vain as India lost to Sri Lanka in the second T20I at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Thursday.
Chasing a mammoth 207 runs target, India could manage only 190/8, falling short by 16 runs. This was the first win for Sri Lanka against India in India in 13 T20Is.
India lost the game because of undisciplined bowling and batting. Their bowlers conceded close to 40 runs in their last two overs. No-balls came back to hurt them pretty badly, and Arshadeep Singh was the most visible culprit, who messed up with five no-balls.
In contrast, Sri Lanka scored 55 runs without loss in the first power play, but India lost five wickets with only 57 runs on the scoreboard.
The Sri Lankan pacers got the new ball to swing and seam. Kasun Rajitha (2/22) removed both the openers - Ishan Kishan (2) and Shubman Gill (5), and then Dilshan Madushanka (2/45) took out Rahul Tripathi for 5.
Chamika Karunaratne joined the party by getting off the dangerous India captain Hardik Pandya cheaply for 12.
Axar and SKY turned the tables in India's favour by landing a counterpunch. The third over of Wanindu Hasaranga was special for India as Axar smoked three sixes in first three balls and SKY dealt another maximum on the fifth ball, gaining 26 runs.
The pyrotechnics of both the batsmen helped India get 75 runs between 11 and 15 overs, with Axar making 65 off 31 and SKY 51 off 36.
But Sri Lanka prevailed in the end, thanks to the 19th over from Rajitha made the difference as he conceded just 12 runs, leaving India to get 21 off the last six balls.
Earlier, a record half-century from Dasun Shanaka (56* off 22) and a quickfire fifty from Kusal Mendis (52 off 31) helped Sri Lanka impose a total of 206/6.
Shanaka walked into the middle with Sri Lanka in some trouble at 110/4, and watched Charith Asalanka smoke three sixes off both Yuzvendra Chahal and Umran Malik.
But Umran got rid off Asalanka and Hasaranga in the 16th over, leaving Sri Lanka six down.
At 147/6 after 17 overs, Shanaka upped the ante and raced to his half century in no time. He dispatched Shivam Mavi for three sixes in the final over as the visitors crossed the 200 barrier to leave India with an uphill task.
Series is level at 1-1 and it's all to play for in Rajkot on Saturday.
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