India have taken an “unassailable” 2-0 in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka with a seven-wicket win in the rain-curtailed second game at Pallekele on Sunday.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav displayed their wide range of shots during a tricky chase of 78 runs in 8 overs after rain forced a shortened game.
The Indian side, captained by new head coach Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav, were on top in all departments in the second match.
Despite Shubman Gill being ruled out due to neck spasms and another low score from Sanju Samson, it was Jaiswal and Suryakumar who spearheaded India’s batting line-up.
Jaiswal did not allow Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga’s bowled balls to deviate off the surface for creating confusion. They did it well due to their reach and smothering turn taking effect.
In just over three overs, Jaiswal and Suryakumar hit four boundaries and two sixes contributing to 39 runs. With this quick scoring rate, Hardik Pandya (22* off 9) & Rishabh Pant (2*) took only 6.3 overs to seal the win.
Skipper Suryakumar had his day with bowlers before that.
Sri Lanka were at 130/2 after 15 overs but they collapsed losing seven wickets for just thirty-one runs in their last thirty balls. Pandya used change of pace (2/23 in 2 overs) while Bishnoi employed quick googlies (3/26in4).
A middle-order collapse saw Sri Lanka lose four wickets within delivery intervals ten following their loss of four wickets yesterday without any consolidation from thereon as they ended up all out for 161 in 19.1 overs.
Sri Lanka started off well with a 2nd wicket partnership of 54 runs scored by Pathum Nissanka (32 off 24 balls) and Kusal Perera (53 off 34 balls) in six overs. However, the following batsmen could not capitalize, and the Indian bowlers tightened their grip on the match.
Dasun Shanaka and Hasaranga got out for zero, which reflected the mounting pressure and their hasty shot selection.
The Indian bowling plans demonstrated effective coordination between Suryakumar and coach Gambhir. Bishnoi, who struggled initially against Sri Lanka’s top-order, showed significant improvement.
Ravi Bishnoi started his spell well after Riyan Parag (0/30 in 4 overs) and Axar Patel (2/30 in 4 overs) had kept things tight. Bishnoi changed the pace of his googlies that proved to be crucial.
The ball gripped off the surface while taking considerable pace leaving batters undecided on whether to be pro-active or stay put.
Bishnoi did something differently this time around than he did last night; varying the pace of his googlies – fastest for Nissanka, slightly slower for Shanaka and flat and low for Hasaranga – that was very effective.
India’s all-round performance has made Tuesday’s final game inconsequential as far as series is concerned.
