Ind v SL 2nd T20I Review: Superior India trounce Sri Lanka by 69 runs

The stats read “The team chasing at Ranchi had won five out of the seven T20 matches played here” before the 2nd T20I between India and Sri Lanka commenced. But, it was not the same case as the hosts vanquished the Lankans to register a victory by 69 runs. The visitors proved to be no match against the disciplined Indian bowlers and tumbled for just 127/9 chasing a formidable target.

The playing condition at the JSCA stadium, Ranchi was quite contrasting to the one at Pune where the Indians were toppled by the young Sri Lankan fast bowlers. The pitch was dry and dusty; the outfield also wore a barren look. India went in with an unchanged side while Sri Lanka left out Niroshan Dickwella for T Dilshan.

The Indians faced no problem after been put into bat by Chandimal. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan blasted the Lankan bowlers and provided a cracking start to the innings. The discipline seemed to be lacking in the Lankan bowlers as they gave away half-volleys and wide deliveries. Dhawan was the aggressor and jetted off to a quick 20 balls half century in the 7th over. However, Lanka tasted its first success in the same over after Dhawan lost his wicket to Chameera just after celebrating his maiden T20I fifty.

There was a brief period of time after his wicket where the runs flow had slowed down. However, Rahane and Sharma quickly got the momentum back and began to deal in fours and sixes. But, soon, both Rahane and Sharma departed in successive overs. But, this did not affect the run scoring as Hardik Pandya and Suresh Raina began to fire all guns. Both put together a rapid 59 runs stand in just 4.2 overs to take India to a formidable position. Indians looked set for a 200 plus total but the penultimate over saw Thisara Perera taking the fourth T20I hattrick which to an extent stopped India from reaching there. Dhoni (9 from 5 balls) did his best in the final over and India ended at 196/6 after 20 overs

Perera was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka. The Lankan pacers clearly missed the advantage of the green top in the 1st game and were hammered with complete dominance by the Indian batsman.

Chasing a solid 197 runs target, the visitors had a very awful start after Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed the dangerous Dilshan with the very first ball of the second innings. Ashish Nehra then added to the trouble by claiming the wickets of Seekuge Prasanna and Danushka Gunathilaka to leave the Lankans lurching at 16/3.

Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedara then tried to control the proceedings. However, with a mountain of runs to chase the pressure was rising on them. In addition, Dhoni kept rotating the bowlers every now and then and did not allow the Lankan duo to settle in at any price. The duo batted till the half-way stage of the game, weaving a cautious 52 runs stand before Jadeja brought a major turnaround in the match from where defeat was inevitable for Sri Lanka.

In the 12 over, it seemed that the match will witness its second hat trick after Jadeja made both Kapugedara and Chandimal off consecutive deliveries. The required run rate was hovering around 16 runs an over at this stage and the match was as  good as finished.

Shanaka (27 from 18 balls) and Siriwardana (28* from 20 balls) batted for a quickfire stand of 48 runs but their efforts were never going to be enough as the game had already slid out of their hands. Ashwin and Bumrah snapped up two wickets each in the 16th and 17th over. It was only a matter of formality for both the teams now. Lankans were totally down and dusted for 127/9 after consuming 20 overs. India as a result levelled the series comfortable.

Brief Scores:

India: 196/6 in 20 overs (S Dhawan 51; T Perera 3/33)

Sri Lanka: 127/9 in 20 overs (C Kapugedara 32; R Ashwin 3/14)

Man of the Match: Shikhar Dhawan