Right then, that's it from us for this game. An emphatic win has allowed India to put the series to bed. Sri Lanka will aim to salvage pride with a win in the next game and head into the ODI series with some momentum. After a day's break, the two teams will be back in the park for the third and final T20I on Tuesday, 30th July. The first ball will be bowled at 7 pm IST (1.30 pm GMT) but our build-up will begin much earlier. Until then, take care and cheers!
The captain of India, Suryakumar Yadav is up for a chat. He says that they spoke before the start of the series about what brand of cricket they want to play. Says even with a shortened game, they wanted to go with the attacking template. Says even with a shortened game, they wanted to go with the attacking template. Says that anything below 160 would have been a good total considering the weather conditions. Adds that the rain helped them. Appreciates the boys for batting wonderfully. Ends by saying he is happy for the boys and that they displayed a lot of character in tough situations.
The captain of Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka says that he is disappointed with the way the middle and lower-middle order batted, including him. Feels that they must improve their batting at the death. Reckons that on this pitch, when the ball gets older, it becomes really hard to bat but that is not the reason for their collapses. States that as a professional cricketer, they need to find a way to do well. Further says that they fell short by 15-18 runs and the weather also played its part.
Ravi Bishnoi is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his superb bowling spell. He says the surface played a little differently from the previous game. Says it was turning more from the first inning itself. Adds that he tried to stick to his plans and it worked for him. Smiles and says he loves to bowl those wrong'uns to the left-handers. On being asked about bowling in the death overs, he says it shows that the management trusts him and he loves that responsibility.
Time for the presentation ceremony...
Earlier in the game, a drizzle and resulting wet outfield caused a 45-minute delay to the start. Summing up Sri Lanka's batting effort - the first 15 overs saw them reach 130/2 but the next 5 overs were a disaster, resulting in a collapse of 31/7. Inserted into bat, the hosts were off to a steady start with Pathum Nissanka picking up where he left off in the series opener. Nissanka couldn’t kick on, but Kusal Perera did, bringing up his fifty. However, the departure of Kamindu Mendis triggered a dramatic collapse as Sri Lanka lost the plot and failed to capitalize on the platform laid by the top order. For India, Ravi Bishnoi was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 26 from his 3 overs.
After what unfolded in their batting effort, they were right up against it going into their bowling display. With the rain curtailing the game, it was always going to be difficult for them with the wet ball. Their only chance was if India went too hard up front. Maheesh Theekshana gave them an early strike but he could not follow it up with a quiet over and Wanindu Hasaranga too was taken to the cleaners. With 33 runs needed off the last 4 overs, Matheesha Pathirana was introduced into the attack and when he got rid of the Indian skipper, Sri Lanka found a glimmer of hope but another expensive over by Hasaranga allowed India to race towards the target.
Originally, India were set a target of 162 runs to chase, but 3 balls into the chase with the score reading 6/0, the rain arrived. This resulted in the target for India being revised to 78 runs in 8 overs. Sanju Samson fell for a golden duck, but Yashasvi Jaiswal came out swinging, as did Suryakumar Yadav, finding boundaries with regularity. Breezy cameos from Jaiswal and Suryakumar took India to the brink of victory. Then Hardik Pandya came in and provided the finishing touches.
Signed, sealed, delivered! India kickstart their new era in T20 cricket with a series win! All smiles in the Indian camp as Suryakumar Yadav and Co. seal the series with a game to go. As per Abhinav Mukund on air, this is India's 77th bilateral T20I series win, the most by any team. As far as Sri Lanka are concerned, they have only themselves to blame, imploding twice in 2 days. In the first game, they lost their last 9 wickets for 30 runs and then in this game, they lost their last 7 wickets for 31 runs.
In over# 7
4
4
1
Matheesha Pathirana 18/1(1.3)
6.3
4
FOUR! DONE AND DUSTED! Hardik Pandya wraps things in style for India. Pathirana bowls at 146 kph, but provides width outside off, on a good length, Hardik Pandya stays leg side of the ball and slashes hard at it and manages to find the gap between deep third and backward point for a boundary. India seal the series by 2-0.
6.2
4
FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Pandya is in a hurry to finish off things now! Matheesha Pathirana serves right into the hitting zone, on a fuller length, around off, Hardik Pandya clears the front foot to open up the off side, uses his bottom hand and slams it through the leaping mid off for a boundary.
6.1
1
Slower one, on the back of a length, Rishabh Pant hops on the back foot and tucks it towards deep square leg for a single. Just 5 needed off 11 balls now.
In over# 6
6
1
0W
6
1
4
Wanindu Hasaranga 34/1(2)
5.6
6
SIX! SHOT! Short and on middle, Hardik Pandya reads the length early, goes back quickly and pulls it mercilessly behind deep mid-wicket for a cracking six. Hasaranga has gone for 36 runs in his quota of 2 overs. Another ordinary outing for him with the ball. India just a hit away from the series win now.
5.5
1
Tossed up on leg, Rishabh Pant strides ahead, flicks it to long on for a single.
Rishabh Pant walks out to the middle with India requiring 13 runs from 14 balls.
OUT! TAKEN! Jaiswal perishes but he has played a magnificent inning of 30 from just 15 deliveries, doing what was asked of him. Hasaranga bowls it slower through the air, providing more revolutions to this one, lands it on the good length around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal uses the depth of the crease and looks to attack with a pull shot. He goes airborne again but doesn't get the timing right this time around. He fails to clear deep mid-wicket fence. Dasun Shanaka stationed there in the deep times his jump to perfection and takes a sharp catch, just before the ropes.
5.4
W
OUT! TAKEN! Jaiswal perishes but he has played a magnificent inning of 30 from just 15 deliveries, doing what was asked of him. Hasaranga bowls it slower through the air, providing more revolutions to this one, lands it on the good length around off, Yashasvi Jaiswal uses the depth of the crease and looks to attack with a pull shot. He goes airborne again but doesn't get the timing right this time around. He fails to clear deep mid-wicket fence. Dasun Shanaka stationed there in the deep times his jump to perfection and takes a sharp catch, just before the ropes.