Team India started the T20I series against Sri Lanka in a grand fashion, registering a thumping 62-run victory in the first game at Lucknow on Thursday (February 24).
Asked to bat first, the hosts piled up a mammoth 199/2 in their stipulated 20 overs. Ishan Kishan starred with the bat for India, scoring 89 off 56 balls (10 fours and 3 sixes). Shreyas Iyer (57* off 28 balls) and skipper Rohit Sharma (44 off 32 balls) also made significant contributions with the willow.
It was a tough outing for the Sri Lankan bowlers as all of them proved to be expensive. Left-arm spinner Praveen Jayawickrama was the only one who went for less than 8 runs per over as he conceded 15 runs in his two overs.
In reply, the visitors managed only 137/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Charith Asalanka was the lone warrior with the bat, scoring 53* off 47 balls and no other batter managed to cross the 25-run mark.
For India, Bhuvneshwar Kumar was outstanding with the new ball and he returned with impressive figures of 2 for 9 in his two overs. Venkatesh Iyer conceded 36 runs in his three overs but he also picked up a couple of scalps while Yuzvendra Chahala (1-11) and Ravindra Jadeja (1-28) chipped in with wicket apiece.
With this victory, India took a 1-0 lead in the three-T20I series. The remaining two T20Is will be held in Dharamsala on February 26 and February 27.
Brief Scores:
India 199/2 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 89*; Shreyas Iyer 57*; Rohit Sharma 44) defeated Sri Lanka 137/6 in 20 overs (Charith Asalanka 53*; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 2-9; Venkatesh Iyer 2-36) by 62 runs
Here are some reactions from the Indian cricket fraternity to Team India's 10th consecutive T20I win, the longest winning streak for them in the shortest format:
