SL avenge Mirpur mauling in Pune

Pune, February 9 

Sri Lanka rode on a strong bowling performance to defeat India by five wickets in their first T20I at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Tuesday. Chasing a meagre target of 102 runs, the Lankan chase was boosted by a 39-run partnership between Dinesh Chandimal (35) and Chamara Kapugedera (25) as they romped home with two overs to spare.

Earlier, rookie pacers Kasun Rajitha (3/29) and Dasun Shanaka (3/16) wrecked the power-packed Indian batting line-up. Rajitha had a memorable debut, bagging two wickets in his very first over. Fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera (2/14) also bowled well, picking up a couple of wickets, including that of Yuvraj Singh.

Asked to bat first on a green wicket, the Indian batsmen struggled to cope with the appreciable swing and seam movement generated by the Lankan pacers.

Rajitha handed Sri Lanka the advantage right at the start by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Raane in the opening over. Shikhar Dhawan fell when he attempted to smash an outgoing delivery to the leg side. The ball flew off the top edge to third man where Gunathilaka took an easy catch. When Shanaka sent back Raina and India skipper MS Dhoni in the ninth over, India were in neck deep in trouble at 51/5.

Ashwin tried to produce a late fightback, but rapidly ran out of partners as wickets continued to fall at the other end.

Defending a small total, the hosts had a glimmer of hope when veteran pacer Ashish Nehra dismissed debutant opener Niroshan Dickwella on the third ball of the Sri Lankan innings. Gunathilaka — the other opener — went cheaply as well, miscuing a pull off a short-pitched delivery by Nehra. Chandimal and Kapugedera then took charge, ably negotiating the Indian bowling despite a couple of close calls. — IANS

Brief scores: India 101 (Ashwin 31, Rajitha 3/29, Shanaka 3/16); Sri Lanka 105/5 (Chandimal 35, Nehra 2/21).