Dhawan scores maiden T20I half-century as India beat Sri Lanka

Sport360 staff 21:47 12/02/2016
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  • Shikhar Dhawan (R) & Rohit Sharma celebrate after scoring a half-century against Sri Lanka.

    Opener Dhawan smashed his way to 51 off 25 balls, though India were eventually restricted to 196 for six thanks to a superb hat-trick in the 19th over from Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera (three for 33).

    However, the visitors failed to back that up, as Ashish Nehra (two for 26) and Ravichandran Ashwin (three for 14) ensured the run chase never got going, and despite the efforts of Dinesh Chandimal (31) and Chamara Kapugedera (32), Sri Lanka were left hanging on 127 for nine.

    With India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning on his home ground, the series now moves to a decider in Vishakhapatnam on Sunday.

    Sri Lanka chose to field and were forced to wait for their rewards, with Dhawan crafting an attacking opening for India.

    The left-hander smashed seven fours and two sixes in his half-century, putting India on 75 in seven overs before being caught behind off Dushmantha Chameera.

    That left Rohit Sharma (43) to continue the scoring, as he and Ajinkya Rahane (25) put on 47 together, India reaching 100 in exactly 11 overs.

    Chameera came to Sri Lanka’s rescue again, taking a brilliant catch off his own bowling with Sharma confused by a slower delivery.

    Rahane did not last much longer, easily caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan off Sachithra Senanayake, though with Hardik Pandya (27) and Suresh Raina (30) stringing 59 together in just 4.2 overs India looked odds-on to cross 200.

    A superb 19th over from Perera undid all of that. He first had Pandya caught at long-on, then forced Raina into the hands of Chameera at backward square leg, before scalping no less than Yuvraj Singh with his hat-trick delivery.

    Restricting India to 196 for six, Sri Lanka proceeded to stumble themselves with the bat, Dilshan stumped first ball to Ashwin followed swiftly by Seekkuge Prasanna (one) and Danushka Gunathilaka (two), paceman Nehra accounting for the latter duo.

    The rescue act came from Chandimal and Kapugedera with their steady 52 run stand, neither batsman afraid to take on pace and spin.

    Kapugedera even survived a grounded catch chance from Sharma – off Yuvraj’s bowling – but was eventually caught by Pandya off Ravindra Jadeja, who had Chandimal stumped next ball.

    Five down and with 128 required from 48 balls, Sri Lanka came out on the attack as Dasun Shanaka (27) and Milinda Siriwardana (28 not out) hit a few big sixes between them.

    A good catch by Raina at long-on ended Shanaka’s surge, and the 48-run stand, while new man Perera was another first-ball victim for Ashwin, with Jasprit Bumrah removing Senanayake (lbw) and Chameera (bowled) for a duck each.

    It prevented any miraculous comebacks, with Bumrah later returning to bowl out the ‘dead-rubber’ final over.

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