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The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka turned out to be anꦏ absolute thriller where the Islanders managed to claim a 16-run win to level the ongoing three-match series.
Chasing the massive target of 207, the hosts had a terrible start as they lost five wickets for just 57 inside at the halfway stage. The likes of Ishan Kishan (2), Shubman Gill (5), debutant Rahul Tripathi (5) and Deepak Hooda (9) all failed t🐼o ▨impress and couldn’t even score in double figures.
As the situation was looking completely out of hand, the pair of Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel tried to control things by counterattacking. The duo took Lankan bowlers to the cleaners and shifted the momentum towards the Men in Blue. Both Surya and Axar smashed quick fifties and added 91 runs for the sixth wicket.ಌ But a mistimed shot from Suryakumar led to his dismissal for 51 off 36 deliveries.
Axar, on the other end, kept founding boundaries to take India close to the victory line. He was well supported by tailender Shivam Mavi as the duo brought down the equation to 21 needed in the final over. Axar, after getting the strike by Mavi, picked up a couple, and in order to hit a biggie, the all-rounder got out. Axar ended upܫ scoring 65 from just 31 deliveries as Sri Lanka managed to record a thrilling win by 16 runs.
Earlier, skipper Dasun Shanaka and opener Kusal Mendis smashed sizzling half-centuries to power Sri Lanka to a massive 206/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Asked to bat, openers Mendis (53) and Pathum Nissanka (33) formed an 80-run stand to give the touriཧsts a solid start.
The visitors then lost momentum as Indian bowlers, led by pace sensation Umran Malik (3/48), bagged a flurry of wickets to decrease the run flow. However, Lankan captain Shanaka (56 not out) and all-rounder Charith Asalanka (37) smꦉashed consecutive boundaries to take their side over the 200-run m🐬ark.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
The match wentဣ down to the wire but it is Sri Lanka who won the second T20I by 16 runs.
Scorecard ▶️ |
— BCCI (@BCCI)
We level the series!
🇱🇰 1 – 1 🇮🇳
Th🌳e series w🌜ill be decided in Rajkot on Saturday.👊
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
Well 🅺done guys 👏🏼 super stuff from Charith at the same time That was tremendous effort from india Where they were & 👏🏼
— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth)
This is the first loss for India agaꦚinst Sri Lanka in T20Iಞ in India since 2016.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
Terrific effort from , & but it 𝓰was the day of th൲e Lankan tigers!! Well played Sri Lanka 👏🏽 let’s bounce back in Rajkot!!
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa)
If t🅺his is an investment, I will take this result for Team India. This loss could pave the way for a better future.
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9)
Skipper really said “I’ll do it by myself” 🐬today.
Excellent show of skil﷽l from both bat and ball today 👏🏽 👏🏽 👏🏽
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka wins second T20I♊ by 16 run🤡s. 🏏
— Dasuni Athauda (@AthaudaDasuni)
Axar Patel won't mind two more elections in Gujarat inside 12 months.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
Most runs added by India aไfter losing 5th wicket in 💃a T20I innings:
133 – v SL at Pune, today
101 – v NZ at Christchurch, 2009
98 – v AUS at Bridgetown, 2010
92 – v SA at Indore, 2022— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats)
Two closely-contested games. Once more, the team batting first wins at Pune. Dasun Shanaka’s love for India is of another level…takes his game few notches higher vs Ind🥀ia.
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Axar Patel's heroics in vain as Sri Lanka beat India in 2nd T20I. Scorecard:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
A great effort fro♏m SKY, Axar, & Mavi to keep 🇮🇳 in the game till the final over 👏🏼
Onto the series decider 👊🏼
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
Well played & Srilanka.
No balls & top order fai𒅌lure cost us the match.
— Shubhankar Mishra (@shubhankrmishra)
🇮🇳 put up a strong fight to pull things back b💯ut 🇱🇰 were the better side tonight!
We’ve got a score to settle𓂃 in the decider now! 👊
📸: BCCI
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets)
Will take this defeat any day if you are wanting to build the T20 core. Many mistakes to꧃night, and they should look at eliminating them, but that India came so close to weaving a miracle, gives hope
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73)
1️⃣-1️⃣ it is.
We’ll have decider on Saturday! 🇮🇳 vs 🇱🇰
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
India gave it their all, but Sri Lanka have drawn leve🙈l in the series with a w🐼in in a high-scoring game in Pune 👏 | 📝 Scorecard:
— ICC (@ICC)
Appreciation post for the Super performers of the Night 🇮🇳 🦁💛
📸 :— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)