Sri Lanka Crushes India At T20 Series

In a magnificent display of skill, Sri Lanka defeated India in the first match of the three-match of the Twenty20 series at the Maharashtra Cricket Association International Stadium here on Tuesday, 9th February.

Sri Lanka lost its openers midway through the fifth over, but skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedara put on the highest partnership of the match and ensured that their team will fly to Ranchi with 1-0 lead. Brought after 11 overs, off-spinner R. Ashwin captured two wickets, with Suresh Raina plucking a full-blooded sweep by Dasun Shanaka, when all hopes had actually vanished for the home team.

At a post-match press conference, Sri Lanka spinner Sachinthra Senanayake said, “Yes, it was like Australia. We always expect a turning wicket, but it was seaming and bouncing wicket”. The fierce Sri Lankan trio of debutant Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka and Dushmantha Chameera took 3, 3 and 2 wickets respectively demolishing the Indian squad who were all out after scoring 101 in 18.5 overs. Rajitha rose as the hero of the match.

Whether the surface with a fair grass cover right across the length of the pitch, as prepared by former State fast bowler Pandurang Salgaonkar, had anything to do with the initial success of Rajitha and later of medium-pacer Dasun Shanaka, is a matter of debate, but the home team were put down under extreme pressure brought upon by Rajitha, who completed his opening spell of three overs with the wicket of Dhawan, playing a horrendous shot in the circumstances and offering a catch to Danushka Gunathilake at third man. India was in doldrums losing the wicket of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh, and it got even worse when Shanaka broke the back with a three-wicket spell.

While analyzing the game, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar said, “what India really need to think was the fact that this new attack of Sri Lanka they haven't really seen it. You might see videos but when you are playing them for the first time it's just that little bit difficult," he said. "These guys were bowling well, pitching the ball on a good length, getting the ball to move around. So, maybe a little bit of caution was called for particularly after India lost their first two wickets in the first over and maybe given the bowlers just that little bit more respect, then they could have got 30-40 runs which could have made the difference," he further explained.