In the second T20 match of the
series in Pune, Sri Lanka defeated India by 16 runs after an exciting contest.
Batting first, Sri Lanka scored 206 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in this
do-or-die match to return to the series.
Openers Patham Nissanka and Kaushal Mendis gave their team a smoky start,
both scoring 33 and 52 runs respectively.
Charith Asalanka contributed with 37 runs off 19 balls while captain Dasan
Shanaka completed the team's double-century by scoring a half-century off just
20 balls in the closing moments.
For India, Imran Malik took 3 wickets, Akshar Patel 2 and Yuzvinder Chahal
took 1 wicket.
Indian batsmen faced difficulties in chasing the target. Half of the
Indian team returned to the pavilion for only 65 runs in the first 10 overs.
In such a situation, Surya Kumar Yadav and Akshar Patel tried to bring the team
closer to victory by playing a lightning-fast inning.
Surya scored 51 runs off 36 balls and Patel played 65 runs off 31 balls.
In the closing moments, the Sri Lankan bowlers controlled their nerves and
dismissed Suriya and Aksar, while also breaking Shovem Mavi's innings of 26 runs
off 15 balls in the last over.
For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madhushanka, Kasan Rajitha and Dasan Shanaka took
two wickets each while Vinandu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne dismissed one
player each.
With this win, Sri Lanka levelled the series at 1-1.
It should be noted that this is Sri Lanka's first T20 victory against them
on Indian soil after 7 years.
On February 9, 2016, Sri Lanka defeated India by 5 wickets in a one-sided
match at the same ground in Pune.