Twitter Reactions: Clinical India ease past Sri Lanka despite brief jitters

Team India extended their domination over the subcontinental neighbors, Sri Lanka. After having faced a shock defeat in the series opener of the Nidahas Trophy 2018 against the same opposition, the Rohit Sharma-led side came back firm and strong in the fourth game of the series. After restricting the hosts to 152 in 19 overs, team India rallied along to register their second win in the series.

The win was not the most comfortable one considering the brief spell of play in the second innings where Sri Lanka had a sniff in the game. In any case, the Indian team now is pretty much a top contender to be the first team to enter the finals of the tri-series with a win over Sri Lanka. Earlier in the day, Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to field first. He noted that the track is expected to get better for batting.

The Sri Lankan side got off to a flying start with 25 runs in the first two overs. But Shardul Thakur sent Danushka Gunathilaka on 17 in the third over to draw first blood for the visitors. Since then, the Lankan batsmen got starts but none, save Kusal Mendis, could hold the fort for the team. Mendis scored a brilliant 55 off just 38 deliveries with three fours and as many number of sixes during his stay at the crease.

His efforts helped Sri Lanka post 152/9 in the stipulated 19 overs, after the rain had cut short the game. Shardul Thakur bagged a four-fer. In the run chase, team India lost both their openers cheaply inside the powerplay. Suresh Raina looked good for his 27 (15) and so did KL Rahul for his 18 (17). While Raina perished as a result of his expansive shot making, Rahul ended up becoming the first Indian player to be hit wicket in T20Is.

After Rahul’s dismissal, everything went India’s way. Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey played unbeaten knocks to steer India home by 6 wickets. Pandey remained unbeaten on 42 off just 31 deliveries, while Karthik remained unbeaten on 39 off only 25 deliveries.

Here is how the fans reacted to the Indian win:

Come on boys @BCCI ????‍♀️??
Ps- safe to say sports is always on atleast one tv in this house at all times ? pic.twitter.com/0T5c0X0GG0

— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) March 12, 2018

Can't decide whether 'Pairo pe kulhaadi marna' or 'Kulhaadi pe pair maarna' ?? pic.twitter.com/cQGZHrMnQv

— Abhishek ?? #408 (@ImAbhishek7_) March 12, 2018

This is an outstanding partnership between two players, Pandey and Karthik, who have been around for a while but who are perhaps playing their best cricket in the last few months.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2018

Given Sri Lanka were about 25 short of where they could have finished, this was always going to be a relaxed chase.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2018

Most matches lost at a venue in T20Is:

14 – SRI LANKA at Colombo (RPS)*
14 – Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club #SLvIND

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 12, 2018

Normalcy restored. India beats Sri Lanka comfortably. That’s what everyone is used to seeing. Well played @im_manishpandey #INDvSL #nidahas

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 12, 2018

Whether many like it or not, DK is cementing his place in the Indian squad and would be in for the England tour after IPL along with MS. Just like they have to put up with DK leading KKR, you got to accept it too. ?

— Prabhu ? ‏ (@Cricprabhu) March 12, 2018

Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey finish off the game easily from a tricky situation. Good to see Sri Lanka getting an authentic thrashing again.

— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 12, 2018

Clinical performance from India as they ease past @OfficialSLC by 6 wickets. Brilliant batting from @im_manishpandey & @DineshKarthik . #NidahasTrophy #SLvIND

— Debasis Sen (@debasissen) March 12, 2018

Manish Pandey looked secure and composed, and showed fine awareness of the situation. And Karthik has been the classiest Indian batsman today.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 12, 2018

KL Rahul finally got a chance to play after long gap and He becomes first Indian batsman to get out hit wicket in T20 International…

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) March 12, 2018

First Indian batsman to be hit-wicket:

In Tests – Lala Amarnath, 1949
In ODIs – Nayan Mongia, 1995
In T20Is – KL RAHUL, Today#SLvIND #NidahasTrophy

— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 12, 2018

Lol KL Rahul…. Why are all Rahuls like this

— Gappistan Radio (@GappistanRadio) March 12, 2018

Be It Cricket Or Politics, Rahuls Are Busy Doing Hit-wickets. ?#SLvIND #INDvSL #SLvsIND #INDvsSL KL Rahul

— Sir Ravindra Jadeja (@SirJadeja) March 12, 2018

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