Sri Lanka lost the T20 opener to India by 62 runs as the hosts, put into bat in what turned out to be a suicidal gamble by the Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, pumelled 199 for 2 on a tailor made track for batting at Lucknow on Friday. In the face of the Indian onslaught consequently, Sri Lanka was put out of the game from the very first ball of chasing such a massive target. Wobbling on 57 for 4 at the halfway mark after 10 overs with the asking rate mounting over 13 runs an over, Sri Lanka finished on 137 for 6 off 20 overs.
India’s openers Ishan Kishan 89 off 53 balls inclusive of 10 fours and a six and skipper Rohit Sharma 44 off 32 with 2 fours and a six, posted 111 off 73 balls. Iyer Shreyash then pounded an unbeaten 52 off 28 balls with 5 boundaries and 2 sixes.
Charith Asalanka led a late Sri Lankan recovery on the back of an unbeaten 47-ball 53 containing 5 fours. He added 37 for the sixth wicket with Chamika Karunaratne who made 21 off 14 with 2 fours and a six, and unbeaten 40 for the 7th wicket with Dushmantha Chameera who was on 24 with 2 fours and a six. But their efforts would not lift Sri Lanka from the doldrums.