After surprise loss comes big win

Ranchi, February 12 

India produced an all-round performance to outclass Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the second T20I here on Friday to level the three-match series 1-1. Opener Shikhar Dhawan scored a quick-fire half-century (51 off 25) as India posted a challenging total of 196/6 in 20 overs. In reply, the visitors could manage only 127/9 in 20 overs.

Chasing a challenging target of 197, the visitors got off to a horrible start, losing experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) in the very first over, bowled by R Ashwin. In the next over, Sri Lanka suffered another blow when Danushka Gunathilaka (2) was caught off an outside edge off the bowling of Ashish Nehra and the side was reduced to 3/2 in 1.1 overs. Tight bowling by both the Indian pacers and spinners saw the visitors lose wickets at regular intervals. With wickets falling in clusters, it became difficult for the middle and lower order batsmen to keep pace with the asking rate.

Earlier, the home side got off to an explosive start with both openers Rohit Sharma (43) and Dhawan going all out. India scored 70 runs in the powerplay as Dhawan brought up his 50 in just 22 balls. But in the final ball of the seventh over, Dhawan edged the ball to wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal. The visitors got the second breakthrough when Chameera took a stunning catch off his own bowling to dismiss Rohit. Rahane, too, fell soon after, leaving India at 127/3 in 14.2 overs.  From there on, Suresh Raina and Hardik Pandya helped India to a handsome total. 

In the 19th over, Thisara Perera (3/33) got rid of Pandya, Raina and Yuvraj to clinch a hat-trick. — IANS

India

Rohit c & b Chameera 43

Dhawan c Chandimal b Chameera 51

Rahane c Dilshan b Senanayake 25

Raina c Chameera b Perera 30

Pandya c Gunathilaka b Perera 27

Dhoni not out 9

Yuvraj c Senanayake b Perera 0

Jadeja not out 1

Extras (lb-1, w-9) 10

Total (for 6 wickets, 20 overs) 196

Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-122, 3-127, 4-186, 5-186, 6-186   

Bowling

Rajitha 4-0-45-0

Perera 3-0-33-3

Senanayake 4-0-40-1

Chameera 4-0-38-2

Prasanna 3-0-21-0

Siriwardana 1-0-6-0

Shanaka 1-0-12-0. 

Sri Lanka

Gunathilaka c Dhoni b Nehra 2

Dilshan st Dhoni b Ashwin 0

Prasanna c Yuvraj Singh b Nehra 1

Chandimal st Dhoni b Jadeja 31

Kapugedera c Pandya b Jadeja 32

Siriwardana not out 28

Shanaka c Raina b Ashwin 27

Perera c Rahane b Ashwin 0

Senanayake lbw b Bumrah 0

Chameera b Bumrah 0

Rajitha not out 3

Extras (w-3) 3

Total (9 wickets; 20 overs) 127

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-16, 4-68, 5-68, 6-116, 7-117, 8- 119, 9-119  

Bowling

R Ashwin 4-0-14-3

A Nehra 3-0-26-2

Yuvraj Singh 3-0-19-0

R Jadeja 4-0-24-2

S Raina 2-0-22-0

J Bumrah 3- 0-17-2

H Pandya 1-0-5-0.