1st T20: Ishan’s fireworks help India win

Sri Lanka proved no match for India in the first T20I as they lost by 62 runs despite Asalanka’s half-century.

Ishan Kishan and Rohit Sharma provided a great start followed by a magnificent finish from Shreyas Iyer that pushed India closer to 200 run mark. 

India     20 overs    199-2

Ishan 89 (56)                 Shanaka 1-19                                                                                                                                  S. Iyer 57*(28)              Kumara 1-43

Sri Lanka       20 overs     137-6

Asalanka 53*(47)           Bhuvneshwar 2-9                                                                                                                 Chameera 24*(14)         Venkatesh 2-36

The dominance of team India continues in white-ball cricket under the leadership of Rohit Sharma with yet another victory.

The number 1 ranked side has registered a convincing victory of 62 runs against Sri Lanka.

Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan provided the platform of a big score with their outstanding partnership. 

Ishan Kishan was superb today against the young Lankan bowling unit as he played an excellent knock in the first T20I.

Shreyas Iyer played the finishing role for India in the death overs and due to the half-centuries from him and Ishan, India managed to put 199 runs on the board. 

Sri Lanka’s poor chase 

Bhuvneshwar Kumar disturbed the Sri Lankan approach to chase the target of 200 runs by dismissing Pathum Nissanka on the very first ball of their inning.

Bhuvi further jolted the Lankan batting by sending Kamil Mishara back to the pavilion after scoring just 11 runs off 28 balls.

Sri Lanka continued to lose wickets and they were 60-5 at one stage.

Charith Asalanka played patiently at one end when wickets were falling around him.

Chamika Karunaratne played a little cameo of 21 runs off 14 balls.

Asalanka and Chameera scored an unbeaten partnership for the 7th wicket but it was too late as India managed to win the game by 62 runs.

Asalanka remained unbeaten on 53 runs while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer picked up 2 wickets each. 

Rohit-Ishan’s opening stand

Rohit Sharma and Ishan Kishan provided a good start to the innings to set the platform for a big score.

Rohit and Ishan added 111 runs for the first wicket from just 71 balls.

Both of them played aggressively in the powerplay to put the bowlers under pressure.

Rohit was bowled out by Lahiru Kumara after scoring 44 runs off 32 balls. 

After having a bad series against West Indies, Ishan Kishan came back strongly with an incredible knock.

The left-handed batter fell just 11 runs short of his century as got out on 89 runs from just 56 deliveries. He smashed 10 fours and 3 sixes in his inning. 

Iyer’s firepower in the end

Shreyas Iyer played a superb knock in the death overs that helped India to put a big total on the board.

Iyer thrashed an unbeaten 57 runs from just 28 deliveries including 5 hours and 2 sixes at a strike rate of 203.57.

Due to his outstanding power-hitting, India scored 44 runs from the last 3 overs.