SRI LANKA IN INDIA, 2017
Live Cricket Score: India vs Sri Lanka, 2nd T20I, Indore
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Fri, 22 Dec, 2017, 10:30 PM
Live Score Updates Sri Lanka 172-all out (17.2 Ovs) Pradeep 0 (5) India 260/5 Hardik Pandya 3.2-0-23-1 India won by 88 runs Live Scores Full Scorecard
Rohit Sharma extends his incredible form into T20Is with the joint-fastest hundred - off 35 balls. © BCCI
All Over - India complete series win!
A 2-0 series lead like no other! Absolutely phenomenal performance from India to take home an 88-run win, inspite of Sri Lanka's brief resilience through the middle. After a lot of six-hitting through the middle, Kuldeep Yadav removed the dangerous Kusal Perera in the 15th over, and a procession followed. Angelo Mathews's injury kept him away from batting, and Sri Lanka suffered quite an implosion. They went from 156 for 3 in the 15th over to to 172 for 9 in the 18th! There would've been a time in that chase when the Sri Lankan dugout would've chuckled and believed a miracle was about to unfold, but that was brought to an early end with Kusal's dismissal. In the end, Kuldeep and Chahal picked seven scalps between them.
Kuldeep ends SL's chances?
Excellent bowling from the chinaman bowler. He bowled two tossed up balls, full and wide outside offstump and induced mistimed hits which didn't clear deep fielders. First was captain Thisara Perera for a first-ball duck. And then the big fish - Kusal Perera, whose big hit went only as far as Manish Pandey at long off. Kusal walked back for a 37-ball 77 - all but ending Sri Lanka's hopes.
Chahal breaks through..
And does so with a very impressive catch! Not easy taking those high ones. A straighter one from the leggie and Tharanga mistimed his slog. The top-edge travelled high, but Chahal called for it and retained composure to grasp it. Tharanga did his bit - within rules of course - to distract Chahal by running from in front of the bowler, but that didn't make a difference. Sri Lanka 145 for 2 in 13.2 overs.
Kusal Perera is keeping SL in it
A 26-ball half-century from the left-hander has lifted Sri Lankan spirits. Can he do the unthinkable? He sure seems to think he can! Sri Lanka have gone from 86 for 1 in 9 overs to 142/1 in 13 overs - 56 runs have been smashed in 4 overs!
Tharanga joins the party now..
The wristspinners are clearly not having the best of times. After Kuldeep went for a lot in the two overs against Kusal Perera, it is Chahal's turn to bear the brunt of the experienced Tharanga. Dropped short and Tharanga rocked back to pull it high and handsome.. next hit is off a tossed up ball and that's been packed off to the usual destination - second tier of the stands! Btw, that's his highest T20 score - 42 off 23.
Some fun for Kusal Perera
It's dewy for sure but Kusal got the better of Kuldeep, quite comfortably. Good use of the feet on all three occasions - one four and two sixes. Need more of these, 19 runs off the over.
Dickwella departs early
He corrects his shot almost immediately. The previous short ball almost had him but this time, he pulled it beautifully over the top for the first six of the innings. Add one more to the staggering list at Indore today.
The line continues to be poor against Dickwella as they keep bowling it short. Dickwella dismisses both for fours. The shots had to be played and he clips it straight down the throat of Pandya there, at deep mid-wicket. Good running catch and Sri Lanka lose their first. Required rate is staring down at them..
DROPPED
That should have been a wicket, Bumrah bowls the bumper and it gets onto the left-hander quickly. Dickwella still goes for the pull and slices it in the air. The backward square leg fielder running backward had it covered till he fluffed it. Rahul the culprit, should have been taken.
Hello and welcome back for Sri Lanka's reply. For most, it is a foregone conclusion that India have already done enough and that bowling would be a mere formality. However, the boundaries remain as small for Sri Lanka too and their openers Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga would look to get going from ball number one.. A very ambitious project, this!
**************
Digest some more numbers:
Most sixes in an innings in T20Is:
21 Ind v SL, Indore, 2017 *
21 WI v Ind, Lauderhill, 2016
19 Neth v Ire, Sylhet, 2014
18 Aus v Eng, Southampton, 2013
Most sixes in an innings in T20s - 21 each:
RCB v PWI, Bengaluru, 2013
WI v Ind, Lauderhill, 2016
Rangpur Riders v Dhaka Dynamites, Mirpur, 2017
Ind v SL, Indore, 2017 *
India end up equaling the second-highest total in T20Is - 260
Rahul misses hundred, India eye highest-ever total
Rahul continues to find new ways of missing hundreds, he's a disappointed man as he goes back for 89. Hardik Pandya and MS Dhoni follow soon after. Can India still go for the highest ever total in T20Is? Nine needed off the last three balls to equal 263 - the highest total..
Four sixes in seven balls for Rahul now
So, when he needed to play second fiddle or rather when didn't have the option or strike to do any damage, he kept his cool. And just as Rohit departed, Rahul came into his own by hitting Dananjaya, Chameera and Pradeep for sixes in what.. a space of seven balls. There's a hundred for the taking for the Karnataka man, he just has to collect it.. 10 deliveries remain in the innings!
Most sixes in an innings in T20Is (As of now):
21 India v Sri Lanka, Indore, 2017*
21 WI v Ind, Lauderhill, 2016
19 Neth v Ire, Sylhet, 2014
18 Aus v Eng, Southampton, 2013
Will it be a Dhoni show now?
Two boundaries early in the innings already. And now two sixes off Akila Dananjaya, these come too easy for the ever so powerful MS. He hit the straps in Cuttack, just about the perfect mood and platform to go for the jugular even today. He's already indicating it.. Don't forget Rahul at the other end, Sri Lanka would do well to not forget that it was Rahul who started the carnage this evening. He's just not got the strike but he would be breathing fire too!
Still a captain's game
Just as Rohit was walking back, the Indian coach Ravi Shastri got up from his chair and immediately gestured at the skipper so as to who should the next man be? Rohit bent down and pulled off a wicket-keeper's pose, and bang on! MS Dhoni walked in next.. A captain's game, isn't it?
Everytime you think you have seen it all, you see something incredible. Today, Rohit Sharma has shown us that. I admit I am gasping. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 22, 2017
Okay, so no double hundred for him!!
Well, that's how high he sets the expectations. Chameera had already gone for two sixes and a four in the over, before he bowled that bumper which Rohit could only guide to the short third fielder. End of a stupendous knock from the HitMan. 12 fours and 10 sixes, which amounts to 108 runs of his 118. Can you believe it? These are mind-boggling numbers.
Just a breakdown of numbers for you..
Rohit moved from 47 off 22 to 67 off 26, courtesy two sixes and two fours. Then he stormed onto 97 off 34, with four more sixes added to the list. So, that's 50 off 12 balls, which also happens to be the fastest fifty in T20Is - achieved by Yuvraj Singh.
Some numbers to digest..
First Indian batsman to score two 100s in:
Tests: Vijay Merchant (1946)
ODIs: Ravi Shastri (1984)
T20Is: Rohit Sharma (2017)
First Indian captain to score a 100 in:
Tests: Vijay Hazare (1951)
ODIs: Kapil Dev (1983)
T20Is: Rohit Sharma (2017)
Hundred for HitMan
And, Rohit Sharma gets there.. in style.. smashes a fiery drive through covers to get to his hundred, equaling David Miller's feat that came off the same number of deliveries - 35. Incredible batting this from the HitMan. The better half is in attendance and the anniversary celebrations aren't stopping. It was a Double Hundred to celebrate their partnership that evening in Mohali, today it's a hundred in T20Is.
Everything's gone into the second tier this evening, odd ones in the third tier too. He's sparing none, mind you, absolutely none. An example of contrasts btw, 35 balls for a hundred for Rohit, 33 balls for a 46 by Rahul at the other end!
Only if this isn't jinxing.. Rohit on 97 off 34 right now!
Fastest T20I 100s (balls):
35 D Miller v Ban, Potchefstroom, 2017
45 R Levi v NZ, Hamilton, 2012
46 KL Rahul v WI, Lauderhill, 2016
46 F du Plessis v WI, Joburg, 2015
Dananjaya, Chaturanga and now Gunaratne.. first-over violence against them!
So, the Lankans have employed their seventh bowler in only nine overs' time now, but does that help? Sorry, it doesn't! Gunaratne manages to bowl a couple of deliveries for singles till Rohit decided that the treatment got to be similar for one and all. Two massive sixes over mid-wicket followed by two fours right after. 21 off this over now, how much is Rohit on now? From 47 off 22 in the previous over to 67 off 26 by the end of this over, that's a supersonic travel!
Seven sixes already!
Hope Holkar is declared as no fly zone tonight. Six Hitting Fest on offer. #IndvSL — Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 22, 2017
STAT ALERT: India's 87/0 in 8 overs is now the highest opening stand for them in T20Is, going past Rohit and Dhawan's 75 in Ranchi last year.
Three BIG overs
First, Pradeep's over went for 17 runs. Akila Dananjaya was introduced in the final over of the powerplay and India's intentions were quite clear. Rohit charged down on the first ball itself and smashed it for four. Another four and a six followed - 17 in that over.
God bless the straight boundaries at Indore.. — Pratyush Sinha (@prat1204) December 22, 2017
Poor Chaturanga de Silva can't survive the brunt either. Two fours and a 101-meter six off him, make that another 16-run over.
First four overs: India 26/0
Next four overs: India 61/0
Raining boundaries and sixes..
So, Nuwan Pradeep's over is the breakaway over for the Indian openers. Not the poorest start for the pacer though as he bowls a fractionally short ball and Rohit pulls it as if it was a rank long hop. Rahul took over from there, four and a six off back-to-back balls.
But spare a thought for the six he hit in the previous over. Rahul walked into Dushmantha Chameera and lofted him straight over long off for a majestic six. Yes, 'majestic' is the word.
Gee, this KL Rahul is fun to watch. Two sensational contrasting shots off Chameera. A crisp off-drive and an on the rise into the 2nd tier. — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 22, 2017
In and Out
That's a horrible miss, although it was hit hard. Short, wide and cut straight to the man at point by Rahul. Samarawickrama, who gets his first game in this series, is the culprit. Not the best way to mark your attendance!
Boundaries flowing already..
Two poor balls and both of them put away. Rohit cuts the first one away before pulling a real loosener over widish long on for the second boundary in the opening over. Rahul, who didn't have strike at all in the first over, executes a picturesque straight drive in the next. Both openers have gotten going..
Elevens
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni(w), Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Niroshan Dickwella(w), Upul Tharanga, Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera(c), Chaturanga de Silva, Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep
Team news
India go in unchanged while Sri Lanka have made a couple of changes. Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chaturanga de Silva replace Dasun Shanaka and Vishwa Fernando. Btw, Fernando had made his debut in the opening T20I. So, just the one game for him as of now..
Toss time, folks
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to field first
Akash is as busy in the media center as he is usually at our desk. Chirping away information. "Hey guys! Not packed at the moment with still some time go. But if local newspaper reports are to be believed, the tickets that were made available for the local public at the box office were sold out within two hours. Tickets online are sold out as well. People are still coming in. There's plenty of buzz, and traffic, outside. Should be a packed house."
And Akash with more.. Looks like no debut for Basil Thampi or a return in the side for Siraj. While Thampi is busy chatting with the throwdown specialist Raghu, Siraj is keeping wickets to Dhoni!
Small ground in Indore, bit of grass, nice lights.......but real question is whether Sri Lanka will come out playing as well as they actually can — Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 22, 2017
Warming Up..
What's so different that we can look forward to in the second Twenty20 International between India and Sri Lanka? There've been a few moments, far too less, where the tourists have seemed to exert control. In other moments - call it match-defining - India have managed to enjoy the upper hand. Throughout this tour of India, and the one when India had gone visiting Sri Lanka, there was little doubt that India would be difficult to beat. But that they would toy with the Lankans was little we wanted.
This game at Indore presents Sri Lanka with the umpteenth opportunity to do something special, something noteworthy. They would have very few supporters who would believe so. Well, what do we talk about India? There's no Virat Kohli leading the side, but India still managed to get the better of the tourists, and by far. KL Rahul is back to form, MS Dhoni went all guns blazing. Indore won't mind an encore.
While we are still building up to the toss, here's our man, Akash Sarkar's preview
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RSAXI 287, 154/5 (38.2 Ovs) • ZIM 196, 243 South African Invitation XI won by 5 wkts
WEST INDIES TOUR OF NEW ZEALAND, 2017-18
Live Cricket Score: New Zealand vs Windies, 2nd ODI, Christchurch
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Sat, 23 Dec, 2017, 10:05 AM
Live Score Updates Windies 121-all out (28.0 Ovs) R Beaton 12 (25) New Zealand 325/6 Matt Henry 7-0-36-0 New Zealand won by 204 runs Live Scores Full Scorecard
Gayle misses out due to an illness. © Getty
MAKE THAT SEVEN! It's all over in Christchurch! How easy did Boult make that look? It is the heaviest defeat New Zealand have veer inflicted on Windies. Surprised?
First he ran through the top order, then returned to finish the tail in a spectacular bowling performance to give New Zealand the series. A massive 204-run win, and it was a depleted New Zealand side. Wow! Windies were blown away by Boult's sheer ability to generate swing. They were left without any semblance of an answer. That's that. An easy win then for the hosts. Join us for the dead rubber in a couple of days' time when the two sides take each other on on December 25 for the final ODI. Thanks for joining us today. Goodbye!
BOULT HAS FIVE! Third five-wicket for Trent Boult in ODIs. The short ball has Cottrell in trouble. Balloons up to the 'keeper who takes an easy catch. Two more to go. Windies 110/8.
The next over, Ferguson returned to bounce off Holder, who went after the short ball, only to top-edge to midwicket. Holder departs!
DOUBLE TROUBLE! Wickets in successive balls! Ferguson has gotten rid of Jason Mohammed and Rovman Powell. Jason hits back at the bowler who takes an easy caught and bowled chance. He then followed that up with a fast yorker. The offstump is uprooted! There's little the batsmen could have done about this. WI in all sorts of trouble.
Lockie Ferguson into the attack and he's cranking up the speedometer.
Shai Hope was playing really well before he had to depart. There was a change in angle and it does the trick. Hope wanted to smash it over midwicket, but ends up skying it to the wicketkeeper. Another one goes down.
OUT! Three overs, three wickets for Boult - are you surprised? After the early wicket of Hope, Lewis holed out straight to the man at long leg after taking on a short ball. Then Hetmyer edged to Worker in the slips as Windies lost their third in quick succession. Boult swing is too much for the visitors at the moment. They're unable to play him!
BOWLEEED HIIIM! Took Boult just six deliveries to strike! Kyle Hope, who came in as replacement for Gayle departs for 4 after an inswinger breaches his bat-pad gap. First blood for Boult with just 10 on the board.
Right, here we go. Winies openers are in the middle.
WINDIES NEED 326 TO LEVEL SERIES: After the strong start and the position they were at at the halfway stage, New Zealand seemed like they would fall short by at least 40 runs at the end of their innings after being reduced to 186/5 at one stage. However, a late surge from Henry Nicholls along with Todd Astle, which saw 130 runs being added in quick time, saw the hosts finish on a high, setting Windies 326 to level the three-match series that they lead 1-0.
Astle fell one short of his fifty after being bowled by Cottrell, but Nicholls was key and remained unbeaten on 83 off just 62 balls. Can they do it? Join us after the innings break.
Astle falls one run short of his half-century. Cottrell with his third wicket for the day. Has been the pick of the bowlers for Windies. Breaches Astle's defence. Gone!
This has been such a good partnership for New Zealand after they seemed like they were losing their way in the middle! FIFTY for Nicholls - his third in ODIs. Has come at a great time too! Astle is keeping him good company as the pair have added 100 runs in quick time!
TWO REDS: Not out! Nicholls is given out off Cottrell for a leg before appeal. The batsman decides to review it. No bat, impact in line, pitching in line, but missing the stumps! Good review that!
Two wickets in two overs by West Indies captain Jason Holder as Ross Taylor is caught behind for 57. Astle joins Nicholls. BLACKCAPS 186-5 with 17 overs to go ???? #NZvWI pic.twitter.com/pglJ8tmV3n — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 23, 2017
TWO IN TWO FOR HOLDER: Follows Worker's steps, literally. Taylor falls right after getting to his fifty. New Zealand squandering these starts and partnerships. Run-rate that was up and above 6 for most of the innings has fallen too. Holder strikes to send the big fish back after he edges to the keeper. New Zealand are on 186/5 - How many do you think they'll get?
FIFTY FOR TAYLOR! His 39th in ODIs. There's been one solid end for New Zealand today. After Worker, it has been Taylor. Was unbeaten on 49 last game. Now has a fifty.
LATHAM DEPARTS: Jason Holder had caused Latham trouble with one that failed to rise. The Kiwi skipper couldn't negotiate the extra bounce, and ends up lobbing it to the keeper. He departs for 20.
AND OUT! Another short ball does the trick. This time it's Worker who has to make his way back. Worker goes after it and miscues a pull to long leg where Rovman Powell takes a good catch. Beaton with the wicket. The opener departs for 58 off 53 balls. Disappointed, naturally, because he was playing so well too! New Zealand 126/3.
FIFTY for Worker: The opener reaches his third ODI fifty with a top-edge for six. it's his successive half-century! Holding his end rather well after that early chance was put down.
Back to back ????????s for George Worker. 47 balls, 3 fours and 2 sixes.
Looking right at home at the top of the BLACKCAPS order ????#NZvWI pic.twitter.com/VUocFO3APZ — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 22, 2017
100 up for the hosts in the 17th over.
DRINKS: New Zealand started well but lost two wickets in quick succession. Worker, after being dropped, has held his end rather well and is unbeaten on 41. New Zealand still are scoring at over 6 an over, so they're keeping up the momentum they started off with.
GONE! Double strike from Cottrell. He's bowled so well all morning, deserves the wicket! Trying to get one to third man, Broom edges to first slip where Jason Holder half-dives to his right. Broom departs for 6 - the only scoring shot over the fine-leg fence in his 13-ball stay.
At the end of 10 overs, New Zealand are 66/1.
Out. Munro (30) goes after the short ball from Cottrell, but doesn't get all of it. Neil Broom new man in, BLACKCAPS 50-1 #nzvwi pic.twitter.com/VseocfrBPW — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 22, 2017
WICKET: Cottrell strikes! Munro flat-bats to mid on after going after a short one. Mohammed obliges. There's a salute celebration, of course! Munro gone for 30!
After five overs, NZ have 37 on the board.
MUNRO doing what he does best. Has started off attacking. Two sixes have come off his bat already.
DROPPED: Worker handed a life by Hope, who puts one down behind the stumps. Extra bounce bothers Worker again. Worker gloves it to the keeper's left, Hope dives, but grasses it.
Here we go. How will Windies validate their decision to bowl first on a dryish pitch? Let's find out. New Zealand's openers are in the middle.
For New Zealand, Broom and Henry replace Williamson and Southee respectively.
Two changes for Windies: As expected, Gayle isn't fit enough to play. Kyle Hope replaces him, while Cottrell comes in for Kesrick Williams.
Windies (Playing XI): Kyle Hope, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope(w), Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Mohammed, Jason Holder(c), Rovman Powell, Ashley Nurse, Ronsford Beaton, Sheldon Cottrell, Shannon Gabriel
West Indies have won the toss and will bowl first in the second ODI at Hagley Oval in Christchurch! #nzvwi pic.twitter.com/6bzOqUASMR — BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) December 22, 2017
New Zealand (Playing XI): George Worker, Colin Munro, Neil Broom, Ross Taylor, Tom Latham(w/c), Henry Nicholls, Todd Astle, Doug Bracewell, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult
Windies have won the toss and have opted to field
Hello and welcome to Christchurch for the second game of the three-match ODI series. New Zealand have taken the early lead in the series with a five-wicket win in the first one-dayer. But this is West Indies' best chance to bounce back and level the series given New Zealand's depleted side with regular skipper Kane Williamson and Tim Southee being rested. Adam Milne is ruled out with an injured foot. Latham will lead the Kiwis today. Join us for the toss in a bit.
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INDIA VS SRI LANKA, 2017
Rohit Sharma record ton powers India to series win
Cricbuzz Staff • Last updated on Fri, 22 Dec, 2017, 11:15 PM
Rohit Sharma starred with a 43-ball 118, 108 of which came in fours and sixes. © BCCI
Rohit Sharma arrived at the Holkar Stadium in Indore in complete Friday mood as he sent both Sri Lanka and the crowd into a tizzy with a mind-boggling exhibition of big-hitting. With 12 fours and 10 sixes that amounted for 108 off his 118 runs, Rohit rode his way to an incredible hundred, the joint-fastest in T20Is, equalling David Miller's 35-ball blitzkrieg against Bangladesh earlier this year.
Although Sri Lanka gave India a few reasons to worry about while trying to chase down a record 261, Kusal Perera and Upul Tharanga's knocks were never enough as both teams will now head to Mumbai for the third T20I but with the series already decided in the hosts' favour.
Most of the working populace who would have not complained for staying back in their office cafeterias for that extra long to not miss India's carnage, must have set off for either their homes or party places knowing the fate of the game. However, Sri Lanka tried and tried real hard to make a match out of it. When Niroshan Dickwella was dropped in the second over by KL Rahul, one thought that the tourists got the much-needed luck quite early in their chase. However, after a couple of fours and a six, Dickwella was sent back by Jaydev Unadkat in the fifth over.
The tide turned in the following over when both Tharanga and Kusal got stuck into Kuldeep Yadav, pasting him for two sixes and a four in his first over. He went for a six more in his next over before being replaced by his fellow wristspinner, Yuzvendra Chahal. The script didn't change much as Tharanga took on the legspinner, hitting him for two sixes while collecting 16 off his over. Sri Lanka raised their 100 inside the first 10 overs, and although the back ten needed even more brutality, the tourists had at least stayed alive at that point.
Perera hit his fifth six and followed it up with a four, off Chahal, to bring up his fifty in just 26 balls. The next over saw more damage as Kuldeep, who was brought back into the attack, went for more runs with two fours and a six - all from Kusal.
Just as the wrinkles on the foreheads had started to grow for India, Chahal produced the much needed breakthrough by getting Tharanga to miscue a heave, and he completed the dismissal by taking a smart catch himself. Kusal cut the celebrations short by smashing another four and a six in the same over. India didn't have to wait any longer for the decisive blow as Kusal fell in the next over while attempting to heave one over covers. With three wickets going down in that over, including that of two new men - Thisara Perera and Asela Gunaratne, Sri Lanka found themselves five down all of a sudden.
Chahal made his presence felt by picking up three wickets in the next over, leaving Sri Lanka eight down. With Angelo Mathews out with a hamstring injury yet again, the tourists were reduced to just nine wickets. Hardik Pandya struck in the 18th over to drill the final nail in the coffin, helping India pocket the series with a big victory.
Thisara Perera's decision to bowl first came straight out of a wary-of-dew captain's handbook but little did he know that he and his bowlers had to bowl on what was eerily similar to a national highway. Rohit, who recently became the only batsman to have three ODI double hundreds against his name, carried his good luck into the shortest format of the game, starting off with two boundaries in the opening over. KL Rahul, who made a celebrated return to the limited-overs form with a fluent fifty the other evening in Cuttack, exhibited the same sublimity when he stroked a mellifluous drive straight past the bowler in the second over. The last thing Sri Lanka wanted was a dropped chance and Sadeera Samarawickrama, who had been drafted in for this game, dropped a straightforward catch of Rahul on 6 in the third over.
As usual Rohit Sharma eased himself in the middle while Rahul toyed with Dushmantha Chameera to ridicule the already hapless Sri Lanka by lifting him straight over the sightscreen for the first six of the evening. Little did the visitors know that there would be 20 more of them in the innings. Nuwan Pradeep's opening act was not one to remember as both openers picked a six apiece in his over to sent him for 17 runs. Akila Dananjaya was brought into the attack in the final over of the powerplay and he bled 16 runs. The field opened up but that didn't stop the openers from bringing the roofs down, hitting 49 in the next three overs.
Inside the first nine overs of play, Sri Lanka had used up seven bowlers, with India painting two contrasting four-over breakdowns. While the first four brought 26, the next four brought 61 runs. With four sixes off Thisara Perera's over - the 11th of the innings - Rohit raced off to 97 off 34 balls, at a time when Rahul was on 45 off 32. It was with a scorching drive through covers that Rohit registered the joint-fastest ton in T20Is, off just 35 balls. When he hit two more sixes and a four in the following over, there were talks of a T20I double-hundred in the making. However, a short ball was steered straight to short third man as Rohit walked back for 118.
MS Dhoni was promoted up the order and with two sixes and two fours very early in the innings, India seemed set to scale the highest ever total in T20Is. Rahul made quick change of gears. But while on 89 with 10 deliveries to go in the innings, he was sent back by an acrobatic take from Dickwella behind the stumps. Scoring only seven in the final over, the hosts ended with their highest score in the format, also the joint second-highest total overall.
Brief Scores: India 260/5 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 118, KL Rahul 89; Thisara Perera 2-49) beat Sri Lanka 172 in 17.2 overs (Kusal Perera 77, Upul Tharanga 47; Yuzvendra Chahal 4-52, Kuldeep Yadav 3-52) by 88 runs.
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