1XCRICKET
    • Contacts
    • About us
    1XCRICKET
    • CRICKET
      • IPL betting app 2024
      • Cricket match predictions
      • Domestic
      • International
      • IPL
      • WTC
      • Women
    • FOOTBALL
      • Football match predictions
      • Indian Football
        • ISL
        • I-League
        • National Football Team
      • European Football
        • Premier League
        • Serie A
        • Bundesliga
        • La Liga
      • Championships
        • Euro 2020
        • FIFA World Cup
        • UEFA Champions League
        • UEFA Europa League
        • UEFA Nations League
        • European Super League
      • Transfers
    • KABADDI
    • BADMINTON
    • BASKETBALL
    • BOXING
    • TENNIS
    • OTHER
      • ATHLETICS
      • SWIMMING
      • WRESTLING
      • TABLE TENNIS
      • ESPORTS
      • GOLF
      • FIELD HOCKEY
      • GYMNASTICS
      • MMA
      • RUGBY
    • 1XBET APP
      • 1xBet IPL app
      • 1xBet login
    1XCRICKET
    1xCricket » CRICKET » International » Sri Lanka clinch low-scoring thriller to achieve T20I series parity against India
    International

    Sri Lanka clinch low-scoring thriller to achieve T20I series parity against India

    Kashish ChadhaBy Kashish ChadhaJuly 29, 20214 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Reddit Telegram
    Credit: The Indian Express
    Share
    Facebook Twitter Reddit Telegram

    Despite missing multiple of their first XI picks, the Shikhar Dhawan led Indian side gave hosts Sri Lanka a run for their money in the second T20I of the three-match series on Wednesday. But carrying an imbalanced unit had a telling impact eventually as they lost by a margin of four wickets in a low-scoring thriller. 

    Originally meant to be played on Tuesday, the second T20I was rescheduled July 28 following confirmation that spin all-rounder Krunal Pandya has tested COVID-19 positive. 

    Amid the scare of a viral outbreak in the Indian camp, all other members underwent another round of testing and returned negative. This, including eight players who were identified as Krunal’s closest contacts. 

    However, as a necessary health safety precautionary measure, stand-in captain Dhawan and coach Rahul Dravid opted to rest those eight players, which left them with only four specialist batsmen plus wicketkeeper Sanju Samson and six bowling options to choose an XI with. 

    Despite such an alarming imbalance, though, India nearly pulled through to seal the three-match series. 

    As it happened, the visitors lost the toss and were asked to bat first. Dhawan was joined by debutant Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top. They gave India a solid start, allowing the visitors to be 45/0 at the end of the powerplay restrictions. Given the slow, spin-friendly nature of the surface and India’s lack of batting depth, it was an excellent start. Gaikwad (21 off 18 balls) got out in the next over, but Dhawan carried on and made a 42-ball 40. 

    Indian skipper couldn’t quite find his timing all innings and failed to connect many of his intended strokes, but given what India had at their disposal, Dhawan’s were some crucial 40 runs in the context of things. 

    See also  After the postponement of 'A' series, India's England tour squad extends

    Another debutant Devdutt Padikkal (29 off 23 balls), batted with good composure against the Sri Lankan spinners when they were really starting to tighten up the screws on Indian batsmen in the middle overs. Padikkal rotated the strike quite nicely but lost his wicket trying to up the ante. 

    Samson and third debutant for the night Nitish Rana couldn’t get going and managed only 7 and 9 runs off the 13 and 12 balls they had faced, respectively. Experienced pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, forced to bat No.6 on the day, scored a useful 13* off 11 balls to take India to a total of 132 for 5. 

    Sri Lankan bowlers – Dushmantha Chameera (1/23), Akila Dhananjaya (2/29), Wanindu Hasaranga (1/30) and even skipper Dasun Shanaka (1/14) – made it tougher for Indian batsmen with their precision and control on a day where they were they already had shackles imposed on them. 

    The asking rate for Sri Lanka at the start of their run-chase was only 6.65, but India still managed to make a game out of it. Lead pacer Bhuvneshwar (1/21) bowled superbly at the start of the innings, using his slow-ball variations to good effect on a dry surface. He got in-form opening batsman Avishka Fernando out, miscuing the ball to the square-leg fielder. 

    That wicket allowed Indian spinners – Varun Chakravarthy (1/18), Rahul Chahar (1/27) and Kuldeep (2/30) – to control things nicely for much of the middle stage. But Sri Lanka ensured they never let the asking rate get out of their hands by scoring some timely boundaries along the way. Minod Bhanuka (36 off 31) and Dhananjaya de Silva (40*) were the two stand-out batsmen for the Lankans on the night. Even Hasaranga (15 off 11) chipped in with a useful cameo. 

    See also  Wankhede Stadium ground staff rewarded with five-star accommodation

    But perhaps the most telling blow on the night was made by seam bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne, who bowled just one over in the first half, but smashed an important six off Bhuvneshwar in the 19th over of the chase. With 18 needed off the last 10 balls, the match was gradually slipping out of Sri Lanka’s hands. However, as it happens in low-scoring games, one maximum off Chamika’s bat changed it all for the batting side. 

    Either side of that delivery, Bhuvneshwar was outstanding on the night, but one error in execution on his part meant that young debutant seamer Chetan Sakariya had only 8 runs to defend in the last over, which Sri Lanka easily chased down with two balls to spare. Chamika’s (12* off 6 balls) well-timed cameo and the strong composure of De Silva allowed Sri Lanka to keep their heavily weakened but resolute opponent at bay and level the series 1-1. 

    Brief scores 

    India 132/5 in 20 overs (Shikhar Dhawan 40, Devdutt Padikkal 29; Akila Dananjaya 2/29, Dushmatha Chameera 1/23) lost to Sri Lanka 133/6 in 19.4 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 40*, Minod Bhanuka 36; Kuldeep Yadav 2/30, Varun Chakravarthy 1/18) by four wickets.

    India Sri Lanka
    Share. Facebook Twitter Reddit Telegram

    Related Posts

    International

    Virat Kohli Explains Decision to Quit as India and RCB Captain

    May 6, 2025
    International

    “Got to try to keep him quiet” — Pat Cummins warns Australia of Rishabh Pant ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy

    September 24, 2024
    International

    Official: Morne Morkel appointed as India’s bowling coach

    August 14, 2024
    IPL

    IPL 2025 retentions: CSK legend MS Dhoni as a player or mentor this time?

    July 30, 2024
    International

    Suryakumar Yadav: “Rashid Khan’s bowling is very difficult to pick”

    June 25, 2024
    TABLE TENNIS

    Ping-Pong Diplomacy: Table Tennis as a Bridge

    December 8, 2023
    ESPORTS

    E-Sports Ecosystem: More than Just Gaming

    December 7, 2023
    BADMINTON

    Badminton’s Power Duos: Celebrating Doubles

    November 30, 2023
    Indian Football

    Football Fever: India’s Goals and Grit

    November 23, 2023
    Trending
    Premier League
    Manchester United Host Arsenal in Opening Weekend Showdown of Premier League 2025/26 Kicks
    By 1X TeamJune 18, 2025

    The 2025/26 Premier League season is set to begin with high drama and heavyweight contests…

    Real Madrid’s Pursuit of Álvaro Carreras Hits Roadblock Over €50m Clause

    June 3, 2025

    LSG’s Digvesh Rathi suspended for one match after the send-off incident

    May 20, 2025

    Virat Kohli Explains Decision to Quit as India and RCB Captain

    May 6, 2025

    Why are umpires checking bat sizes suddenly in IPL 2025?

    April 18, 2025

    Ribéry urges Olise to embrace Bayern culture amidst impressive debut season

    April 9, 2025
    About
    About

    1x.news is your all-in-one website to stay in touch with everything going on in the world of sports: from domestic competitions such as the Indian Premier League and all the way to the Champions League.

    THE TITLE SPONSOR OF SPORTS TEAMS

    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Follow us on social media

    © 2025 Copyright 1xbet.cricket. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contacts

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.