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Preview: Having suffered a stinging defeat in the series opener, India will aim to make a strong comeback when they take on Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 International (T20I) here on Friday. Having whitewashed Australia 3-0 in their own backyard, the Indians were expected to do well at home against the Lankans as they prepare to host the World T20 in March-April. But the youthful Sri Lankan team handed them a rude wake-up call. [caption id=“attachment_2623750” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]
File picture. AFP[/caption] The green pitch in the first T20I at Pune saw the hosts struggle against some quality pace bowling by the Lankans. Debutant pacer Kasun Rajitha proved to be the surprise package, troubling the Indian batsmen with pace, swing and appreciable movement off the pitch to end up with three top order wickets. The 22-year-old enjoyed a memorable debut, bagging two wickets in his very first over in international cricket. The other Lankan pacers including Dasun Shanaka and Dushmantha Chameera also made merry on the green wicket. The visitors were without a host of experienced players in the first T20I. Their regular T20 captain Lasith Malinga and Test skipper Angelo Mathews have been ruled out of the series. Malinga is nursing a knee injury while Mathews is down with a groin strain. The experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan was ruled out of the opening game due to a hand injury while Nuwan Kulasekara and Rangana Herath were also missing from the line-up. But the Lankans did not feel the absence of these star players as the youngsters more than made up with a superb performance. Another strong effort in the second game will not only seal the ongoing three-match series, but could also prove to be a major morale booster for the Lankans as they gear up to defend their WorldT20 title. The Indians on the other hand, will be eager to restore lost pride. Although the batting department proved to be a flop show, the Indian bowlers gave a good account of themselves. Veteran pacer Ashish Nehra made a strong case for a spot in the squad for the upcoming WorldT20 with some excellent work that saw him finish with figures of 3/21 in three overs. Young medium-pacer Jasprit Bumrah did not manage a wicket, but gave away only 19 runs in four excellent overs. Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin put in another good effort in the first match and gave the Indians hope with a couple of late wickets. With the match being played in his hometown, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be hoping that his batsmen come up with a better show as the hosts seek to level the series. IANS
India vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I as it hapened: India bounce back in style to crush Sri Lanka
Live scores and updates of 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka in Ranchi.
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That’s it! India win by 69 runs. They level the series 1-1
India have drawn level in the series. Dhoni started it off with a brisk fifty. Sri Lanka fought back in the middle but then Raina and Pandya got together and provided the momentum again with 59 runs off 4.2 overs, Perera provided some solace with a hat-trick but India had posted an above par total despite it. Chasing the target, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start as they lost the top order inside five overs. Kapugedera and Chandimal steadied the ship but then Jadeja removed both in the 12th over and Sri Lanka never got the momentum going after that finally falling short by 69 runs.
After 19 overs Sri Lanka 124/9 (Siriwardana 26, Rajitha 2)
A decent over from Pandya, 5 runs off it.
After 18 overs Sri Lanka 119/9 (Siriwardana 23, Rajitha 0)
One run and two wickets off the Bumrah over.
OUT! Bumrah gets 2nd in the over. PVD Chameera b Bumrah 0 (3b 0x4 0x6)
It’s full on middle, Chameera looks to drive but misses and finds his leg stump broken.
Rajitha is the last man in.
OUT! Bumrah strikes! S Senanayake lbw b Bumrah 0 (2b 0x4 0x6)
It’s full on middle and leg, Senanayake staye in his crease and looks to turn it to the leg side but misses and gets hit on the pads. The umpire lifts the finger on the appeal. Seemed like it was missing leg.
Chameera is the new batsman.
After 17 overs Sri Lanka 118/7 (Siriwardana 20, Senanayake 0)
Brilliant over from Ashwin, 3 runs and two wickets off it.
ASHWIN STRIKES TWICE!
It’s a leg spinner from Ashwin, it’s short, Shanake looks to pull but gets a top edge to long on where Raina takes a brilliant catch. Perera then goes for a wild swing but gets an outside edge to short third man where Rahane makes no mistake.
After 16 overs Sri Lanka 115/5 (Shanaka 27, Siriwardana 19)
Bumrah starts off with a couple of very good yorkers. Siriwardana then guides a slower one wide of backward point for a boundary. Shanaka then lofts another slower one over long on for a six to make it 13 runs off the over.
After 15 overs Sri Lanka 102/5 (Shanaka 20, Siriwardana 14)
Shanaka providing some late charge. Hammers one over wide long on for a six and then heaves one over deep mid-wicket for another six in the over. 16 runs off the over. 95 needed off 30.
After 14 overs Sri Lanka 86/5 (Shanaka 12, Siriwardana 6)
Siriwardana releases some pressure as he heaves the first ball of Jadeja over deep mid-wicket for a six. Three singles and a couple make it 11 runs off the over. 111 needed off 36 balls.
After 13 overs Sri Lanka 69/5 (Shanaka 3, Siriwardana 4)
A quick Raina over which saw 6 runs off it.
After 12 overs Sri Lanka 69/5 (Shanaka 1, Siriwardana 0)
A brilliant over from Jadeja. 2 runs and two wickets off it.
OUT! Double blow for Sri Lanka!
Kapugedera mistimes his loft and Pandya takes a very good running catch at long on. Dhoni then makes a lightening quick stumping behind the stumps to remove Chandimal. Both the set batsmen at back in the hut.
After 11 overs Sri Lanka 67/3 (Chandimal 30, Kapugedera 32)
Rohit Sharma getting into action in that over. Kapugedera mistimes his loft, Rohit charges, dives forward and pouches a brilliant catch. They all celebrate but the umpire checks upstairs whether the catch was clean, replays show he made a brilliant effort but had grassed it. Chandimal then cracks one wide of long off, Rohit dives but his knee gets stuck in the ground and he misses it. He seemed to have hurt himself. 8 runs off the over.
After 10 overs Sri Lanka 59/3 (Chandimal 24, Kapugedera 30)
The spinners are doing a good job. Jadeja concedes just 6 runs int he over.
After 9 overs Sri Lanka 53/3 (Chandimal 20, Kapugedera 28)
Kapugedera finally breaks the shackles as he hammers the first ball over the sightscreen. Yuvraj hits back to concede just a couple of singles. 8 runs off the over.
After 8 overs Sri Lanka 45/3 (Chandimal 19, Kapugedera 21)
Five singles off the Jadeja over.
After 7 overs Sri Lanka 40/3 (Chandimal 17, Kapugedera 18)
A very good over from Yuvraj. He varied his pace well and hurried the batsman with his quicker one. 3 runs off the over.
After 6 overs Sri Lanka 37/3 (Chandimal 16, Kapugedera 16)
Chandimal looking a tad scratchy, he slashes at one outside off but gets an outside edge over cover for a couple. Swipes at the next one but misses but Kapugedera shows how its done as he heaves one over mid-wicket and then crunches the next through covers for consecutive fours. A single off the last ball makes it 12 runs off the over.
After 5 overs Sri Lanka 25/3 (Chandimal 13, Kapugedera 7)
A tight over from Ashwin, just four runs off it.
After 4 overs Sri Lanka 21/3 (Gunathilaka 5, Chandimal 11)
A successful over for India. Nehra got Gunathilaka, Kapugedera then went for a slash but misses. Nehra then bowled a sharp bouncer, Kapugedera went for a pull but got a top edge to fine leg for a boundary. 8 runs and a wicket off the over.
OUT! Nehra gets his second. Gunathilaka is back in the hut! MD Gunathilaka c †Dhoni b Nehra 2 (7b 0x4 0x6)
Good length delivery outside off, holds its line. Gunathilaka plays a no shot from the crease and gets a thin inside edge to the keeper.
Chamara Kapugedera is the new batsman.
After 3 overs Sri Lanka 13/2 (Gunathilaka 2, Chandimal 8)
A good tight over from Ashwin. Varied his pace nicely. 4 runs off the over.
After 2 overs Sri Lanka 9/2 (Gunathilaka 0, Chandimal 6)
An eventful over. Nehra got Prasanna off the first ball. Chandimal goes for a swipe through the off side next ball but gets an inside edge along the ground to the keeper. He then swipes one across the line, mistimes it and Pandya dives full length to his right at mid on but doesn’t manage to hold on to a difficult catch. Chandimal finally gets one off middle and cracks the last ball through extra cover for first four of the innings.
OUT! Nehra strikes first ball! S Prasanna c Yuvraj Singh b Nehra 1 (4b 0x4 0x6)
Length delivery outside off, a touch wide. Prasanna looks to go hard at it but gets the toe end of the bat to mid off where Yuvraj takes a good low catch.
Dinesh Chandimal is the new batsman.
OUT! Danger-man Tilekaratne Dilshan is stumped in the first over! Lightning quick glovework by Dhoni! Ashwin strikes with the first legal ball of the innings. Went around the wicket, didn’t turn, beat Dilshan outside off. And off went the bails in a flash. Stunning alacrity from Dhoni.
After 1 over SL 3/1 (Gunathilaka 0, Prasanna 1)