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In the first T20I of the three-match series held at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday (July 27), India secured a commanding 43-run victory over Sri Lanka.
Suryakumar Yadav’s high-class batting
Batting first, India posted their highest T20I total in Sri Lanka, scoring 213/7 in 20 overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav led the charge with a brilliant 58 off 26 balls, which included 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. The opening partnership between Shubman Gill (34 off 16) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (40 off 21) set a solid foundation, contributing 7𒐪4 runs from just 36 balls.
Despite a brief slump where India lost two quick wickets, Yadav’s explosive innings and Rishabh Pant’s vital knock of 49 from 33 balls propelled the total beyond 200. Pant’s innings, which included 6 fours and one solitary six, was crucial in accelerating the scoring rate. Hardik Pandya and Riyan Parag added some valuable lower-order runs, though both were dismissed trying to push the scoring rate in♏ the final overs.
Also WATCH: SL vs I꧟ND: Matheesha Pathirana takes out Hardik Pandya with a brilliant 151 kmph yorker in the 1st T2🌊0I
Matheesha Pathirana’s impressive spell
Sri Lanka’s Matheesha Pathirana was the standout bowler, claiming 4 wickets for 40 runs. He was particularly impactful with his 151 km/h yorker that dismissed Hardik and his subsequent spell that kept Sri Lanka in the game. Despite Pathirana’s efforts, Sri Lanka struggled to contain the Indian batters and couldn’t stopped them from breaching the 200 runs mark.
Sri Lanka’s fightback and collapse
In response, Sri Lanka started strongly with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis adding 84 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka, who top-scored with 79 off 48 balls, and Mendis (45 off 27) gave Sri Lanka a strong start. However, the Indian bowlers, particularly Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel, made crucial breakthroughs. Patel dismissed Nissanka and Kusal Perera in quick succession, while Arshdeep and Parag played key roles in restricting Sri Lanka’s chase. Kamindu Mendis showed some resistance with a quick-fire 🌳12, but India’s disciplined bowling and fielding ensured Sri Lanka were bowled out for 170 in 19.2 overs. Parag’s tight final overs and a crucial run-out played pivotal roles in sealing the win for India.
Here’s how Fans reacted:
From 140-1 in 14 overs to 164-7 in 18 overs ꧒is quite a !! seemed set t🙈o upset but quite strangely their challenge has fizzled out!!
— siddhaarth mahan (@siddhaarthmahan)
What a shift in momentum! Sri Lanka was cruising at one point, but then the things turned in India's favor. What a comeback!
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952)
A World Cup winning catch in his last T20I and now a rapid 50 in his 1st T20I as full time captain, SKY's stocks are only going up. What a true india champion.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
The Indian batters were outstanding tonight!! and provided a strong opening, while and ’s contributions bolstered the middle order. The first innings have shown positive batting glimpses for India's future as well as for…
— Robbie Uthappa (@robbieuthappa)
Con🐟secutive wickets for Riyan Parag to finish off the game. He finish with figures of 5 runs and 3 wickets.
— Prantik (@Pran__07)
Leaving this here tonight,
Matheesha ✃Pathirana is ܫthe only silver lining in the Sri Lankan Cricket team, Mann.
Their team isn't worth for anything else.
— Sharon Solomon (@BSharan_6)
A thrilling victory to seal the opening encounter in Pallekele for 🇮�✃�💙 |
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans)
SURYA DADA 🔥
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh)
Axar Patel’s brilliant over turned the game for India, claiming two crucial wickets. Stellar captaincy ౠfrom Surya, bringing in Riyan Parag for an over to dismiss the left-hander with his off-spin. Caught the pulse of t꧙he game really well.
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan)
Indi💝a defeated Sri Lanka by 43 runs in theꦫ first T20I 🏏
– India take a 1-0 lead in the series 🙌
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
A ꦰnew dawn. A new challenge. Success, all the same! 🤌 start GG Era with a scintillating win against 🇱🇰! 🤩
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets)
