IND vs SL HIGHLIGHTS, 2nd T20: Sri Lanka levels series 1-1 with 16-run win; Axar, Suryakumar fifties in vain

We could’ve done well in the middle part. Game was set by the openers. Need to play well in the middle order to allow finishers to finish well. It’s not the dew factor, it’s the skill of Indian batters. They took the game away from us but still we managed to hold the nerve.

Both bowling and batting - powerplay hurt us. We made basic errors which we shouldn’t do at this level. Learning should be the basics we can control. You can have a bad day but shouldn’t be going away from basics. In this situation it’s very difficult. In past as well he’s bowled no-balls. It’s not about blaming but no ball is a crime. Surya had a fantastic run at four. Anyone who comes into the team - you want to give them a role they are comfortable in (on Tripathi batting at 3 ahead of SKY).

The game’s result was probably written in the first couple of overs of India’s chase. A string of wickets had broken the spine of the chase but Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav’s riposte was almost too good to be true as India eventually fell short by 16 runs in a mammoth 207-run chase.

Dasun Shanaka is bowling the last over. Mavi gets a single first ball. Axar follows up with two runs. Shanaka to Axar, OUT! Full toss and Axar sends it straight to wide long-on. Karunaratne takes a fine running catch and that will be it for India. Mavi falls off the last ball and Sri Lanka wins by 16 runs - its first win in India in six years.

Axar Patel c Karunaratne b Shanaka 65 (31b 3x4 6x6); Shivam Mavi c Theekshana b Shanaka 26 (15b 2x4 2x6)

Two wides from Rajitha to start the over. Axar slices a couple of balls on either side of the wicket and finds three runs. Low full-toss and Mavi slams it to wide long-on for two runs. Wide yorker from Rajitha and Mavi misses out on it. Rajitha slides it to the pad and Mavi flicks it to deep mid-wicket for one run. Full toss and Axar pumps it down the ground for FOUR.

Madushanka sends in a perfect yorker to Axar. Dot ball. A single to follow. Short from Madushanka and Mavi hammers it out of the ground, a massive SIX over square leg. Madushanka overpitches and Mavi digs it out over extra cover for FOUR. Slower-ball on the full and Mavi pumps it down the ground for another SIX!

Axar mistimes a slog down the ground and finds two runs. A single to follow. Short ball and Mavi swats it through extra cover for FOUR.

Length ball from Madushanka and Suryakumar unleashes his trademark scoop for SIX and reaches his FIFTY off just 33 balls. Madushanka darts in a wide yorker and Suryakumar misses out on a drive. Madushanka to Suryakumar, OUT! Straight to long-on. Surya for once has mistimed this slog down the ground. Hasaranga marks him safely underneath the ball and India’s hopes take a big hit with that dismissal. Shivam Mavi is the new batter.

Suryakumar Yadav c PWH de Silva b Madushanka 51 (36b 3x4 3x6)

In the slot from Karunaratne and Suryakumar pumps the ball way into the long-off stands for SIX. Slower-ball from Karunaratne and Suryakumar misses out on a ramp shot. A single to follow. Length ball and Axar wallops it down the ground for SIX and brings up a 20-ball FIFTY!

Axar’s on fire. He slams Hasaranga off length of back-to-back deliveries for SIXES over mid-wicket. Another SIX! Short delivery on length and Axar charges down and thumps the ball down the ground for another maximum. Axar flicks the next ball through the on-side for one run. Width from Hasaranga and Suryakumar lofts the ball over extra cover with the turn for another SIX! A single to finish. 26 runs off the over!

Width from Theekshana and Axar lofts the ball over mid-off for FOUR. In the slot and Axar smokes the ball over deep mid-wicket for another SIX.

Slower-ball on length and Suryakumar chips it over extra cover for FOUR. A slew of singles to follow. Suryakumar attempts to ramp but sends the ball to Mendis. Axar, meanwhile starts off on a quick single and is sent back by SKY. Mendis lobs the ball to Karunaratne who makes a mess with a tame throw at the stumps at the other end. Short ball from Karunaratne and Axar gets a top-edge over the keeper for FOUR.

Suryakumar makes a hint of room and powers Theekshana over extra cover for FOUR. Chants of “Surya, Surya” in the stadium. Nine runs from the over.

Hasaranga to Hooda, OUT! Short ball and Hooda mistimes the ball to long-on. Axar Patel in at 7. In the slot and Axar unleashes a slog-sweep for SIX over deep mid-wicket.

Deepak Hooda c DM de Silva b PWH de Silva 9 (12b)

Theekshana into the attack. He starts off with a slider past Hooda’s bat. Hooda chips the next ball to long-on for one run. Suryakumar Yadav attempts to sweep from the middle-stump and gets away with some wood on ball.

Karunaratne shapes the ball away on the full and Suryakumar leans into a drive past backward point for FOUR. Seven runs from the over. The chase is quickly slipping away from India’s hands.

Wanindu Hasaragna into the attack. Hooda and SKY rotate strike throughout the overs with ones and twos. Eight runs from the over.

A superb finish to the PP for Sri Lanka. Rajitha just concedes four runs as Suryakumar and Hooda fail to find the gaps.

Length ball from Karunaratne and Hardik wallops it over long-on for SIX. Karunaratne to Hardik, OUT! A sensational catch by Kusal Mendis! Full ball outside the off-stump and Hardik goes for the drive. Karunaratne gets a thick outside-edge and Mendis flies to his right to latch onto a fine catch. Deepak Hooda in at 6.

Hardik Pandya c †Mendis b Karunaratne 12 (12b 1x4 1x6 )

Rajitha beats Hardik’s blade with another quick delivery on length. This is a fine piece of bowling. Rajitha gets some extra bounce off the pitch as he lines one towards the middle-stump. Four dots before Hardik finds a single through cover.

Madushanka to Tripathi, OUT! Edged and taken. Tripathi gets an outside-edge on a fuller ball from Madushanka while attempting a fuller ball. Sri Lanka is absolutely on top right now as Hardik Pandya joins Suryakumar Yadav. Madushanka swings it in and Hardik heaves it with the inside-half of his blade for FOUR through backward square-leg. Slower ball bouncer and Hardik tucks it fine for one run.

Rahul Tripathi c †Mendis b Madushanka 5 (5b 1x4)

Kasun Rajitha to Ishan Kishan, OUT! A crackerjack from Rajitha to clean up Kishan This one has swung in like a banana from length and in towards Kishan who plays all around it. Rajitha knocks the timber over and SL has its first wicket. In comes debutant Rahul Tripathi. He gets off the mark with a sizzling cover drive for FOUR! This is a man on debut. Tripathi shuffles across to ramp and the ball hits the helmet and flies over the keeper for FOUR. The physio comes out for a mandatory concussion test. Rajitha to Gill, OUT! Straight to long-on! Short ball and Gill checks his pull and it flies straight to Theekshana at long-on. Two wickets in the over for Rajitha.

Ishan Kishan b Rajitha 2 (5b); Shubman Gill c Theekshana b Rajitha 5 (3b 1x4)

A hint of swing for Madushanka as Kishan and Gill open their accounts with singles. Beaten! Madushanka squares up Kishan with a fuller ball that runs past the inside-half. Another one on length and Kishan fails to put to bat to ball. A single to follow. Madushanka swings one in way too much and it flies past the keeper for five wides. Fuller from Madushanka and Gill nonchalantly flicks the ball through mid-wicket for FOUR.

Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill walk out for the chase. Dilshan Madushanka takes the new ball.

What a show from the Sri Lankan captain.

Fastest 50s v India in T20Is (balls faced)

19 - C Green
20 - J Charles
20 - D Shanaka
21 - K Sangakkara

Most no balls by a full-member team in a T20I:

India (7) v Sri Lanka, Today*

West Indies (6) v New Zealand, 2020

Most no balls by a bowler in a T20I (full-member teams):

Arshdeep Singh - 5, Today*

Keemo Paul - 5, WI v NZ, 2020

Slower ball from Mavi and Shanaka heaves it across the line for SIX. Another slower-ball and Shanaka lofts it over the long-off fielder for SIX and that brings up his FIFTY off just 20 balls! Thick outside-edge and Shanaka finishes the innings with another FOUR past the keeper.

Arshdeep Singh returns. Slower-ball from around the wicket onto the body. Karunaratne pushes it towards long-on for a single. Low full toss and Shanaka scoops Arshdeep past the keeper for FOUR. Arshdeep to Shanaka, GONE. Straight to Suryakumar at long-on but it is a NO BALL. Misery for Arshdeep as he bowls his fourth no ball of the night. Full toss and Shanaka smokes it for SIX. A yorker to follow but he has overstepped again. 7th no ball!

Hat-trick ball for Umran. He goes full with pace and Shanaka crunches it down the ground for FOUR. Short ball and Shanaka get a top-edge over the keeper for SIX. Width on offer and Shanaka flays it over deep cover for SIX and it’s a front-foot no ball - fifth of the innings! A yorker on the free hit ball and Shanaka digs it out to cover for one run.

Mavi drops short to Shanaka and he pulls it to deep mid-wicket for one run. Fuller delivery from Mavi and Karunaratne beautifully drives the ball down the ground for FOUR. Mavi sends one into the blockhole as Karunaratne attempts to shuffle across the line. A slew of singles to follow.

Umran continues. He races one past Asalanka’s outside-edge. Umran bangs one in and Asalanka wallops it in front of square for SIX! A couple of singles and Umran sends in another fiery bouncer past Asalanka. Umran to Asalanka, OUT! Does not get the distance this time. Fuller this time and Asalanka is slightly undone by pace as he drags the ball to deep mid-wicket. Shubman Gill pouches a fine catch. Wanindu Hasaranga in at 8. Umran to Hasaranga, OUT! Cleans him up with a thunderbolt! Full, straight and knocks off the off-stump as Hasaranga freezes in his crease.

Charith Asalanka c Shubman Gill b Umran Malik 37 (19b); Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva b Umran Malik 0 (1b)

CRACK! In the slot and Asalanka brings out the slog-sweep for SIX. Shorter ball and Asalanka pummels it over deep mid-wicket for another SIX! Excellent running between the batters as they find three runs off the next two balls.

Short ball from Axar. Asalanka slaps it to deep cover for one run. Asalanka to de Silva, OUT! Straight to long-on. Flatter ball from Axar and de Silva decides to charge and loft the ball down the ground. Fails to get the timing right and Hooda takes a safe catch. Dasun Shanaka in at 6. Off the mark with a single. Asalanka survives by a whisker next ball as he is forced to dive to complete a double. Kishan is late by a fraction of second to flick the bails.

Dhananjaya de Silva c Hooda b Patel 3 (6b)

Mavi replaces Chahal. BANG! Short ball from Mavi and Asalanka picks it up in a flash and smokes it over deep mid-wicket for a massive SIX. 100 up for Sri Lanka. Change of pace on length and Asalanka flicks the ball to the on-side for a single. Mavi ends the over nicely. Nine from the over.

Axar replaces Umran. A couple of singles to start the over. Axar to Nissanka, OUT! Short ball and Nissanka pulls it to deep mid-wicket. Rahul Tripathi completes a fine catch in the deep and India has struck once again. Dhananjaya de Silva is in at 5.

Pathum Nissanka c Tripathi b Patel 33 (35b 4x4)

Chahal continues to vary his pace deftly through the spell. Nissanka and Asalanka pick the gaps and exchange strike with singles. DROPPED! Chahal goes full and Nissanka pumps it straight back. Chahal dives to his right with one hand and spills a tough chance. A single to finish the over.

Umran to Rajapaksa, OUT! Boom! Umran clatters the stumps with his searing pace. 147kph on the speed gun. This was sliding in quickly from around the wicket and Rajapaksa is quite late to react. The ball clips the bat and deflects onto the stumps. Charith Asalanka in at 4. He gets a single. In the slot and Nissanka pumps the ball over mid-off for FOUR.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa b Umran Malik 2 (3b)

Loud appeal as Chahal rushes the ball onto Mendis’ front pad. The umpire is unmoved and India opts for a review. THREE REDS on replays! OUT. Mendis falls soon after his half-century. and credit to Chahal for persisting for a review. Bhanuka Rajapaksa in at 3. He is off the mark with a single. Chahal wafts one slower through the air as Nissanka steps out to work the ball across the line.

Kusal Mendis lbw b Chahal 52 (31b 3x4 4x6)

Umran Malik into the attack. He starts off with a 141kph ball on length. Mendis aims to make some room for an upper-cut but misses. Short ball outside the off-stump and Mendis slaps it over deep third-man for SIX - he reaches his FIFTY off just 27 balls. A single follows. Nissanka drives Umran’s fuller ball through cover for another FOUR. 13 runs from the over.

Axar continues. Axar slides the ball down-leg and Mendis pulls it behind square for FOUR. Fuller ball from Axar and Nissanka unleashes a slog-sweep over deep mid-wicket for SIX. Nissanka and Mendis have shown a lot of positivity in this partnership so far.

Yuzvendra Chahal into the attack. 50 up for Sri Lanka in 5.1 overs. Fuller ball from Chahal on towards the middle-stump. Mendis rocks back and flicks it to the leg-side for a single. Six runs from the over.

Axar Patel replaces Hardik. Mendis works the ball to backward square-leg for one run. Axar keeps it full and tight onto the stumps. Nissanka plays out a couple of balls before a push to mid-on for a single. Just two runs from the over.

Shivam Mavi replaces Arshdeep. Mendis with another hoick and the ball clips the outside-edge and races away to third-man. Mendis drives the ball to mid-on for one run. In the slot from Mavi and Mendis clears his front leg and smacks the ball down the ground for FOUR and it’s another no ball! Low full toss and Mendis chips it over the bowler for two runs. Slower-ball on length and Mendis pumps it once again down the ground. An excellent dive from Rahul Tripathi saves two runs at the edge of the fence. A gentle in-swinger from Mavi and Mendis gracefully puts it past mid-off for FOUR.

Mendis mistimes a loft over mid-on and finds two runs off Hardik. Short ball and Mendis gets a top-edge off the pull for FOUR over the keeper. A single to follow. Full and straight this time and Nissanka blocks the ball down the strip. Nissanka charges down and lofts Hardik over extra cover and gains two runs. The timing wasn’t quite right on that one.

Arshdeep Singh from the opposite end. Arshdeep strays to the pads and Nissanka easily flicks it past mid-wicket for FOUR. A couple of away-swingers from Arshdeep and Nissanka opens the face of the bat to guide them to cover and point. IN THE AIR. Nissanka attempts to hook a short ball and gets an outside-edge flying past backward point. Fuller delivery from Arshdeep and Mendis attempts a rash swipe across the line but misses the ball completely. Arshdeep swings one in and sends it down the on-side for one run. And he has overstepped. Free hit for Sri Lanka. Arshdeep strays to the pads and Mendis flicks the ball behind square for FOUR. Another no ball! CRACK! Mendis flicks the ball way into the stands for SIX as Arshdeep angles the ball into the pads once again. Third no ball in a row! Arshdeep is having a tough time with his run-up. Mendis sends the free hit straight up this time and hands catching practice to Kishan. 19 runs from the over.

Hardik starts with a swinging yorker to Nissanka. He follows up with the inswinger that bites the inside-half of Nissanka’s bat. Hardik bangs one short and it flies down leg for a wide. A single to follow down to third-man. Hardik sends in another outswinger that slides past Mendis’ outside-edge. A top start from Hardik, just two runs from the over.

Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka open for Sri Lanka. Hardik Pandya takes the new ball for India.

India Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Rahul Tripathi, Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka

TOSS: India wins toss, opts to bowl

Hardik Pandya: Going to bowl first. Thought that the dew might come later, and the wicket looks good and shouldn’t change. Oh I didn’t know that (teams batting first have better record here). Happy with the way we bowled and fielded. Tripathi makes his debut. Arshdeep comes back.

Shanaka: Stats suggest batting first is better. Would’ve batted. Important for top order to click in. I think players will do well in this game.

Hardik Pandya and Dasun Shanaka walk out for the toss.

• Matches played: 27
• India won: 17
• Sri Lanka won: 8
• No result: 1
• Last result: India won by two runs
• Last five results: IND won - 4; SL won - 1

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Deepak Hooda’s innings at No. 6 proved game-changing in India’s first T20I win against Sri Lanka. The batter has now played at six different positions in 13 innings.

Hardik Pandya and Co. have reached the MCA Stadium. Can India seal the series tonight in Pune?

An hour to go for the toss in Pune. While we wait, here’s WV Raman looking at the latest from the world of cricket this week - from India’s squad for the women’s World Cup and BCCI’s big performance review of the men’s team to new developments in the Warner vs Cricket Australia saga.

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Sanju Samson’s knee injury has handed Vidarbha’s explosive keeper-batter Jitesh Sharma his maiden T20I call-up. Jitesh had a brilliant season with the Punjab Kings in IPL 2022. He also has the third-highest batting-strike among all Indian batters in T20s behind Prithvi Shaw and Suryakumar Yadav.

Amol Karhadkar highlights Jitesh’s interesting journey:

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Which TV channel will telecast IND vs SL 2nd T20 live?

The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be aired LIVE on the Star Sports Network.

Where can I watch the live stream of IND vs SL 2nd T20?

The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka will be streamed LIVE on Disney+Hotstar.

At what time will IND vs SL 2nd T20 start?

The second T20I between India and Sri Lanka will begin at 7:00 PM IST.

After escaping a late charge by the Sri Lankan allrounders at Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, Hardik Pandya and Co. - along with their islander counterparts - took a bus ride on Wednesday afternoon to the home of Maharashtra cricket for the 2nd T20I.

The Indian team management has been fretting over fitness of two of its key members in its bid to seal the series.

Sanju Samson was ruled out of the series, after hurting his knee in the series-opener. In the 13th over of Sri Lanka’s chase, Samson jammed his knee while fielding at third-man, thanks to a rugged Wankhede outfield. Jitesh Sharma, the Vidarbha batter-keeper, has been drafted in his place as cover for Ishan Kishan.

While the team travelled to Pune, Samson stayed back in Mumbai, awaiting reports of his scan. Samson’s injury adds to India’s injury woes. The left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh who was supposed to lead the inexperienced pace attack was missing in action on Tuesday.

Despite being involved in high-catches drill during the squad’s warm-up, Arshdeep was said to be unavailable for selection due to an ailment. Having travelled to the city where he first impressed head coach Rahul Dravid during the Under-19 Challenger Trophy ahead of the 2018 U-19 World Cup, Arshdeep will be keen to pitch his trademark yorkers.

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If Arshdeep is available, India will be in a quandary over whether to bench Harshal Patel or Shivam Mavi. While Harshal had a decent outing, Mavi made the most of his maiden appearance by emerging as only the third Indian bowler to pick four wickets on T20I debut. Umran Malik, having bowled a ferocious delivery that clocked 155 kph on the speed gun to dismiss Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, is indispensable.

With Samson unavailable, the local crowd will be hoping for Rahul Tripathi’s long wait for his debut cap to end at his home ground. Ever since his maiden call-up to India’s squad last year, Tripathi has been a part of the squad for four T20Is and nine ODIs so far without getting a look-in.

With Ruturaj Gaikwad also in the reserves, it will be the first time an international will be played at Gahunje with two hometown heroes in the squad. While the locals will be hoping for both of them to feature in the game, Samson’s injury has opened the doors for Tripathi to be given a go.

Be it Samson or Tripathi, the onus will be on them to ensure India doesn’t stutter in the middle overs, like it did on Tuesday. If it can dominate the Lankan spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, the series can definitely be sealed on Thursday night.

- Amol Karhadkar

IND vs SL 2nd T20I squads

India Squad: Hardik Pandya (Capt.), Suryakumar Yadav (Vice-capt.), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.

Sri Lanka Squad: Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Wanindu Hasaranga (Vice-capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Kusal Mendis (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara.