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Match Preview Mirpur: Buoyed by two back-to-back wins in the Asia Cup, India will aim to extend their winning streak when they take on a depleted Sri Lanka in their third Twenty20 International at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium here on Tuesday. India defeated hosts Bangladesh by 45 runs in the opener and followed up with a thumping five-wicket win over arch-rivals Pakistan on Saturday. This is the first time the iconic tournament is being played in the Twenty20 format. All the earlier events were One-Day International (ODI) editions. [caption id=“attachment_2650942” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of India vs Sri Lanka. AFP[/caption] Form is on India’s side as they have recently outclassed the island nation 2-1 in the T20I series at home. To add to it, Sri Lanka will come into the match after a humiliating 23-run defeat at the hands of Bangladesh on Sunday. But come Tuesday, it will be a fresh start for both the teams as Sri Lanka will aim to keep aside their poor show against India recently and hope to register a much needed win in the five-nation tournament. The defending World Twenty20 champions, despite having experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Chandimal and Lasith Malinga, have failed to make an impact in the Asia Cup, especially leading up to the world event coming up next month in India. Skipper Malinga, whose knee problem has again popped up, has put his participation in the tournament in doubt. Nevertheless, on Tuesday, Lanka have to step up and give their best to stay alive for the final berth. On the other hand, despite a couple of injury concerns, the 2007 World Twenty20 champions look favourites on paper to win the tie. Shikhar Dhawan missed the match against Pakistan as he was unfit with a niggle in his left ankle. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is being bothered by back spasms these days, has missed most of the training sessions but is expected to be playing against Lanka. Besides Dhawan and Dhoni, opener Rohit Sharma was hit on his left toe by a speedy yorker from pacer Mohammed Amir during the match against Pakistan on Saturday. He was sent for an X-ray but thankfully there was no fracture found. It can be rightly said that India will once again rely on an in-form Virat Kohli to do the job for the side alongside the experienced Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh in the middle-order. In the bowling department, Dhoni will hope his young gun Jasprit Bumrah along with experienced Ashish Nehra and spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will continue their good form. IANS
Asia Cup, India vs Sri Lanka as it happened: Kohli fifty powers India into the final
Live updates from the India vs Sri Lanka match in Asia Cup
 "Asia Cup, India vs Sri Lanka as it happened: Kohli fifty powers India into the final")
Well payed India. Better team won. Time for SL to have a hard talk about the direction they want to take in the next 5 weeks.
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) March 1, 2016
That’s it! India are into the final of Asia Cup!
Kohli finishes it off in style as he flicks it over deep mid-wicket for a four. India beat Sri Lanka by 5 wickets.
Closer than expected. Top gun Kohli stars again but best takeaway from match was Yuvi shrugging off rustiness & reveal some vintage form
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 1, 2016
After 18 overs, India 125/5 ( Virat Kohli 46, Pandya 0)
A very good over from Herath. Just three runs and a wicket off it.
OUT! Herath removes Pandya with a beauty! H Pandya b Herath 2 (4b 0x4 0x6)
It’s full on middle and off, Pandya looks to whip across the line but completely misses the line of the ball. Finds his stumps shattered.
MS Dhonis is the new batsman.
After 17 overs, India 122/4 ( Virat Kohli 45, Pandya 0)
India had got two boundaries in the over. One by Kohli and one by Yuvraj but then Sri Lanka end the over well with the wicket of Yuvraj. 10 runs and a wicket off the over. 17 needed off 18 now.
OUT! It’s that short ball again that brings about Yuvraj’s downfall. Yuvraj Singh c Kulasekara b Perera 35 (18b 3×4 3×6)
Yuvraj had just cracked a four over wide mid off, the next ball is short from Perera, Yuvraj goes for a pull but is late onto it and gets a top edge to fine leg where Kulasekara accepts a simple catch. A good innings ends.
Hardik Pandya is the new batsman.
After 16 overs, India 105/3 ( Virat Kohli 39, Yuvraj 31)
India in cruise control. After three singles in first four balls, Yuvraj pulls one to fine leg for a boundary. He again goes for a powerful pull off the next ball but misses. 7 runs off the over.
Yuvraj Singh today. #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/d2LqjSw0xB
— Pritam Sharma (@VanDiablo) March 1, 2016
Yuvraj is batting as though he wants to send the demons of the t20wc finals to RIP #INDvsSL #AsiaCup
— Annurag P Rekhi (@Dravidict) March 1, 2016
After 15 overs, India 105/3 ( Virat Kohli 37, Yuvraj 26)
Yuvraj showing glimpses of old Yuvraj. He gives himself room and smashes one over deep point for a six. He then pulls the next one but doesn’t connect it well and it falls short of the diving fielder for a single. 9 runs off the over.
After 14 overs, India 92/3 ( Virat Kohli 35, Yuvraj 19)
A very good over from Chameers. He ramped up good pace and beat Yuvraj a couple of time. First the inside edge and then the outside edge. 4 runs off the over.
Yuvraj Singh has hit more SIXES than FOURS in Twenty20 Internationals!
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) March 1, 2016
67 Sixes and 66 Fours!!#IndvsSL #AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup
After 13 overs, India 92/3 ( Virat Kohli 33, Yuvraj 18)
Yuvraj gets into the act now. He hammers one over long on for a flat six and then flicks one over deep mid-wicket for an effortless six off the next ball. Three more singles off the previous four balls make it 15 runs off the over. 47 needed off 42 now.
After 12 overs, India 77/3 ( Virat Kohli 31, Yuvraj 5)
A successful over for Sri Lanka. They got the wicket of Raina in that over. Yuvraj got off the mark with a boundary as he slashed one over backward point. 7 runs and a wicket off the over. India need 62 off 48 now.
OUT! Shanaka finally provides the breakthrough. S Raina c Kulasekara b Shanaka 25 (26b 2×4 0x6)
It’s full outside off, Raina looks to go downtown but ends up mistiming it to mid off where Kulasekara fumbles thrice before finally grabbing it with a relief.
Yuvraj Singh is the new batsman.
After 11 overs, India 70/2 ( Virat Kohli 29, Suresh Raina 25)
Sri Lanka need to do something different. Herath too didn’t get much turn. Kohli and Raina are playing them easily. 4 singles in the over.
After 10 overs, India 66/2 ( Virat Kohli 27, Suresh Raina 23)
It’s all too easy for India. Raina plays a lovely flick through mid-wicket for four. 50-stand comes up between Kohli and Raina. A couple and two singles make it 8 runs off the over.
After 9 overs, India 58/2 ( Virat Kohli 24 , Suresh Raina 18)
Clever cricket from Raina and Kohli. A couple of twos and four singles in the over. 8 runs off it. The partnership is 42 from 34 now.
INDvsSL Rohit n Shikhar falling cheaply.No footwork.Question rises r they completely fit.i doubt
— Vinod Kambli (@vinodkambli349) March 1, 2016
This Asia Cup is just a tribute to how much better Kohli is than every other batsman in the continent
— Hassan Cheema (@mediagag) March 1, 2016
After 8 overs, India 50/2 ( Kohli 22, Raina 12)
Kohli is in a different zone altogether. He plays a crunching extra cover drive for a boundary. Four more singles make it 8 runs off the over. 50 comes up for India.
After 7 overs, India 42/2 ( Kohli 16, Raina 10)
A decent over from Perera. India will be looking to rebuild now. Five singles off the over.
Dhoni talks so much abt giving Yuvraj a chance to bat higher up. Five weeks and he's still waiting?! What for?! #WT20 final again?! #IndvsSL
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) March 1, 2016
After 6 overs, India 37/2 ( Kohli 14, Raina 7)
The dew is taking its effect it seems. The bowlers are finding it difficult to grip it. Kohli gets into the groove as he slashes one just over the point fielder for a four and then crunches one through cover point for the second four of the over. 12 runs off the over.
Yuvi and MS gonna have a workout today + rest of the gang#INDvsSL
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) March 1, 2016
After 5 overs, India 25/2 ( Kohli 5, Raina 4)
A decent over from Mathews. Kohli gets off the mark in style as he flicks one through square leg and it just races away. Raina then looks to flick one but ends up chipping it back it flies inches wide of the bowler. 5 runs off the over.
After 4 overs, India 20/2 ( Kohli 0, Raina 4)
A very good over from Kulasekara, he got the wicket of Rohit and then troubled Raina with his inswingers. Raina then played a risky shot as he flicked one inches wide of the mid-wicket fielder, uppishly, for a four.
OUT! Kulasekara gets his second wicket. R Sharma c Kapugedera b Kulasekara 15 (14b 3×4 0x6)
It’s a touch full outside off, shaping away. Rohit stays in his crease and looks to drive without any feet movement. He gets an outside edge and Kapugedera takes a good low catch at first slip.
Suresh Raina is the new batsman.
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