Shanaka overcomes Axar to help Sri Lanka keep the series alive
India were left to rue a top-order collapse and five no-balls from Arshdeep Singh
India were left to rue a top-order collapse and five no-balls from Arshdeep Singh
Scorer: @Thilak_Rama | Commentator: Sidharth Monga
On that note, we bounce. On behalf of Ashish Pant and Thilak Rama, I say goodbye. So long.
11pm We are back for the post-match presentation.
Hardik Pandya, the losing captain, says, and I paraphrase: "In bowling and batting, the powerplay hurt us. We made some basic errors, which we shouldn't be making at this level. Everyone knows what it is, The learning for us is we should be focussing on what we can control. You can have a good day, you can have a bad day, but you shouldn't be moving away from the basics. For Arshdeep, in this situation, it is very difficult. It is not about blaming him or to be too hard on him, but we know no-balls in any format is a crime. Rahul is accustomed to playing at no. 3, and someone coming in, we want to give them a role they are comfortable with. That's why he batted at No. 3."
Dasun Shanaka, the winning captain and the Player of the Match, says, and I paraphrase: "To be honest, we would have done better in the middle part because the openers set us up well. Surya and Axar were outstanding, but still we managed to hold our nerve. It's good to defend a total like this especially against India in Indian conditions."
10.42pm This is the thing about getting close. Now those seven no-balls stare you right in your face. India were gone for all money at 57 for 5, but Axar, Surya and Mavi brought them close. Not close enough.
The story of the day remains the no-balls. Arshdeep, on his comeback, bowled three in a row in his first over. Then bowled two more. One of them could have been a wicket. There were two more. It is one of those freakish things that caught on like a flu.
Shanka scored 56 off 22, then took two wickets in the final over. Will surely be the Player of the Match. Or will it be Axar: 2 for 24 and 65 off 31?
Shivam Mavi c Theekshana b Shanaka 26 (24m 15b 2x4 2x6) SR: 173.33
Umran Malik comes in. Three sixes needed
AR Patel c Karunaratne b Shanaka 65 (57m 31b 3x4 6x6) SR: 209.67
Over the wicket he stays
Unlike Pandya last match, Shanaka is not risking bowling spin in the last over. He is going to bowl it himself after having plundered the last over when he batted. Mavi, who bowled that last over, is on strike
While captain Hardik said bowling a no-ball is a "crime" in T20s, coach Dravid was less severe
Head coach points out bowling at the end of the game was not easy because of dew, and also showers praise on Axar's improved batting
India were left to rue a top-order collapse and five no-balls from Arshdeep Singh
Sri Lanka will hope for an improved show at a venue they have had success in the past
"It's going to help us to be ready for the big games whenever the opportunity comes," Hardik says