By-Niharika Khurana

In a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats, India emerged victorious against Sri Lanka in the India vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I 2024, held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele, Sri Lanka today, July 27 at 7 pm Indian Standard Time.

The competition was a promoting advertisement for T20 cricket with both participating teams exhibiting their abilities and unflinching resolve high in the sky game, an up-in-the-air game with several ups and downs until the very end.

Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bowl first to which the Indian team scored a total of 213/7 runs in 20 overs . However, the Sri Lankans could only score 170 runs losing all wickets in 19.2 overs.

India’s Innings

Both Sri Lanka and India have new coaches, with Gautam Gambhir joining India and Sanath Jayasuriya taking charge for Sri Lanka.

Yashasvi Jaiswal, who smashed 40 off 21 balls, and Shubman Gill, who hammered 34, gave India an explosive start with a partnership of 74 in the first six overs. The openers were sent back to pavilion as fast as lightning, with Dilshan Madushanka taking out Gill and leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga having the left-handed Jaiswal stumped on his first ball.

Suryakumar Yadav then steadied the innings, attacking the opposition with eight fours and two sixes in a partnership with the left-handed Rishabh Pant. Fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, known as “Baby Malinga” for his slinging action and yorkers similar to former Sri Lanka quick Lasith Malinga, trapped Suryakumar lbw after the batsman’s 22-ball fifty. Pathirana then bowled Pandya and Pant, but despite his four-wicket haul, India’s total crossed 200, aided by a sloppy fielding effort from the home team.

“They were playing a good brand of cricket from ball one. They were keeping the tempo; credit goes to them. We know how the wicket plays in the night. We were fortunate that there was no dew. The way we played in the World Cup, that remedied us that the game was still too far. (If the left-right combination will be persisted) Whatever works for the team, we’ll take the call.” – India skipper and Player of the Match – Suryakumar Yadav

In reply, Sri Lanka started strongly with an 84-run stand between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, who made 45 off 27 balls. Nissanka kept up the charge despite losing Mendis in the ninth over, smashing seven fours and four sixes in his 48-ball knock.

Axar Patel, a left-arm spinner, bowled Nissanka and then sent back Kusal Perera in the same over, triggering a collapse that saw Sri Lanka go from 140-1 to 163-7.

In the first 10 overs India’s score was 112/2 whereas Sri Lanka made 100/1 runs on 1 wicket.

India lost its first wicket after 6 overs while Sri Lanka managed to save their first wicket till 9 overs to Arshdeep Singh.

Earlier, batting first, India scored 111/2 in 10 overs. As per stats, 74 runs were the highest powerplay score for India against Sri Lanka in T20Is.

Sri Lanka’s Response

Initially, it may appear that India’s win was totally beyond Sri Lanka’s reach, but the bottom line is much less so. This match was very panting of breath, especially when Pathum Nissanka was batting. He stands his ground that he still remains on the side of Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, the Indian team should get the kudos for their fighting back even though at the end they also made sure that Sri Lanka did not come too close to the answer. Riyan Parag was the main contributor to the conclusion of the game. The flip side to nearly every win was that the leadership group of the Indian team has a lot to take care of going forward in the tournament.

 Although Pathum Nissanka has done his best, Sri Lanka’s problems were contributed to by others’ failures, making it possible for India to be 1-0 ahead in the 3-match T20I series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. Initially, during their 20 overs, the Indian team scored 213/7 with the skipper’s fifty runs and the contributing roles of Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal. Matheesha Pathirana was the most successful bowler for Sri Lanka, finishing with a four-wicket haul, after Charith Asalanka let India go in to bat first.

“We were not up to the mark in the powerplay, but in the latter part, we came back pretty strong. Some stage, we thought they might get to 240, we did well. Little disappointed with the way the middle-order batted, we could have done better. (On balance of his side) It’s an experiment, this is the way we should go in the future.” – Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka after defeat

The same venue awaits both the teams for the second T20I match on Sunday at 7:00 pm