World Champions India registered another comfortable win against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I to gain an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the 3-match series. In a rain-affected game in Pallekele, India defeated Sri Lanka by 7 wickets and with 9 balls to spare.

Ravi Bishnoi’s three-wicket haul headlined India’s excellent bowling performance. He finished with figures of 3 for 26 and was well accompanied by the other Indian bowlers. Yashashvi Jaiswal and skipper Suryakumar Yadav were lethal with the bat once again as India comfortably chased a target of 78 in 8 overs.

Being put into bat the Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis ensured a productive PowerPlay for Sri Lanka, catching India on the hop in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah once again. Arshdeep got Mendis caught at mid-on off a slower delivery giving India a crucial breakthrough. Kusal Perera then joined hands with Pathum Nissanka as both the batters looked solid, finding the fence every now and then. When things were looking a bit shaky for India, Ravi Bishnoi rose to the occasion trapping Mendis in front and reducing the hosts to 80 for 2.

Kamindu Mendis and Perera continued to bat well as they brought up a 50-run stand. Sri Lanka were 130/2 at the end of the 15th over but just when they needed to hit the accelerator, the wickets fell in a heap, keeping them to a below-par total of 161/9. Sri Lanka looked well settled for a target of above 180 which could have been tricky for India, but their middle order disappointed again. The visitors strangled Sri Lanka in the final few overs of their batting innings, allowing them only 31 runs in the last five overs for the loss of seven wickets. 

Three balls into the run-chase, a heavy shower kept the players off the field for over an hour. India’s target was revised to 78 runs in 8 overs and Jaiswal wasted no time to get going. His new opening partner Sanju Samson was dismissed off his very first ball as India were 14 for 1 after 2 overs. Skipper Surya then came along with the young Jaiswal and took away the game from the hosts. Both the batters scored at a strike rate of 200 and above with Jaiswal getting 30 off 15 and Surya scoring 26 off 12. Hardik Pandya promoted to number 4 came in and sealed the chase with a 9-ball 22, helping India to yet another bilateral series win.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 161/9 (Kusal Perera 53; Bishnoi 3-26) lost to India 81/3 in 6.3 overs (Jaiswal 30, Suryakumar 26, Pandya 22*; Theekshana 1-16) by 7 wickets (DLS)