Ravi Bishnoi’s three-wicket haul spearheaded India’s impressive bowling performance, culminating in a seven-wicket triumph over Sri Lanka in a rain-affected clash at Pallekele. This victory secured an unassailable 2-0 lead for the visitors in the three-match series. A revised target of 78 in 8 overs, dictated by a DLS adjustment due to weather interruptions, was chased down effortlessly by India, with substantial contributions from Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav.
The contest saw Sri Lanka faltering under pressure despite setting up a promising platform. At the end of the 15th over, the host team was relatively well-positioned at 130/2, looking on course for a total in excess of 180. However, their innings crumbled spectacularly, as Bishnoi and the rest of the Indian attack restricted them to 161/9. This decisive phase, where Sri Lanka could only muster 31 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their last five overs, essentially sealed the fate of the match and the series for India.
**Sri Lanka’s Innings: From Promise to Peril**
In the initial PowerPlay, Sri Lanka appeared to have an edge. Their phase score of 54/1, studded with eight boundaries and a six, seemed a signal of intent. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera leveraged the erratic start of Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj, with an especially assertive Nissanka. Kusal Mendis was dismissed by an astute slower delivery from Arshdeep Singh, but Perera picked up the mantle with an immediate boundary, reflecting Sri Lanka’s intent to dominate.
However, India’s adjustment of their bowling strategy to introduce spin early on somewhat mitigated Sri Lanka’s charge. Except for one moderation spin over inside the first six overs, the tactical change didn’t yield immediate dividends, yet it set the stage for later controls by spinners in the middle overs.
**Sri Lanka’s Middle Overs: Perera’s Lone Fight**
Sri Lanka garnered a score of 76/1 in the heightened pressure of the middle overs. India’s spin trio—Ravi Bishnoi, Axar Patel, and Riyan Parag—absorbed the workload during these crucial overs. Parag especially found significant turn, but Bishnoi made the key incursion by dismissing the well-set Nissanka with a googly. Perera, surviving a drop at 32 by Rinku Singh, went on to score a swift 50 off 31 balls, dominating a cooperative stand with Kamindu Mendis for the second wicket.
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**Sri Lanka’s Collapse in Death Overs**
The real damage to Sri Lanka’s innings, echoing the patterns from the previous match, occurred in the death overs. Their score tumbled to 31/7, attributed to India’s relentless pressure. The avalanche of wickets began with Hardik Pandya’s over, wherein Rinku Singh atoned for his earlier misfield by catching Kamindu and Perera in quick succession. This double strike served as a precursor to Bishnoi’s masterful over, where he dismissed both Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga, finishing with figures of 3 for 26. Post-Perera’s dismissal, Sri Lanka only managed to find the boundary once—a six from Ramesh Mendis in the final over—indicative of India’s stranglehold.
**India’s Chase: Smooth Sailing to Victory**
India’s chase commenced amidst a rain interruption, halting play after just three deliveries and resulting in a revised target of 78 from 8 overs. Unperturbed by the recalibrated challenge, Yashasvi Jaiswal quickly adapted and struck a boundary upon resumption. Sanju Samson, replacing the injured Shubman Gill, couldn’t make an impact, falling for a duck against Maheesh Theekshana’s carrom ball. Nevertheless, Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav ensured no further slip-ups.
Yadav, already in fine form from the first T20I, showcased his brilliance with a trio of boundaries off Theekshana. Concurrently, Jaiswal continued his aggressive approach, particularly targeting Hasaranga. The chase narrative concluded with Hardik Pandya’s explosive 22 off 9 balls, guiding India to the DLS-adjusted target with 9 balls remaining.
In summary, Sri Lanka’s inability to capitalize on their initial momentum, especially during the death overs, cost them dearly. In contrast, India’s comprehensive all-round performance, backed by Bishnoi’s pivotal bowling spell and composed batting displays, ensured a statement victory. The series win underscores India’s growing prowess in T20 cricket, rendering the final match a formality.
Brief Scores:
Sri Lanka: 161/9 (Kusal Perera 53; Bishnoi 3-26)
India: 81/3 in 6.3 overs (Jaiswal 30, Suryakumar 26, Pandya 22*; Theekshana 1-16)
Result: India won by 7 wickets (DLS).