Shanaka faces the first ball and gets off the mark with a single. Meanwhile, Nissanka goes big - and he reaches a magnificent T20I hundred off just 52 balls! What an innings.
Nine runs and a wicket come off the over. After 17 overs, Sri Lanka are 170/4, needing 33 from 18 balls.
Kamindu Mendis walks in and gets off the mark with a quick single. Kuldeep delivers a wayward googly, sprayed well outside off - wide called. Nissanka waits patiently before nudging one toward deep point for another single. Another LBW appeal is turned down after the ball clips an inside edge onto the pad. A quick flipper skids through for a single to finish the over.
Just 4 runs and a wicket from it. After 16 overs, Sri Lanka are 161/3, needing 42 from 24 balls.
Arshdeep takes the ball from the other end. Nissanka gets him away straightaway, flicking to third man for a single. Perera is off the mark with three before nudging another one into the leg side. He then opens up, driving handsomely through the covers for his first boundary of the night. Keeps the strike rotating with another single. Nissanka finishes the over with a push down to deep backward point for one more.
A busy over for Sri Lanka, 11 runs from it, and after 2 overs they move to 18/1.
Thushara returns, and Axar and Tilak rotate singles comfortably. Axar then slams a boundary, adding 10 runs off the over. After 18 overs, India are 179/5.
Theekshana bowls the penultimate over. Axar takes a single to put Tilak back on strike, and he responds with a boundary. The rest of the over sees singles being exchanged. Ten runs come off it after 19 overs, India 189/5.
Chameera starts the final over. Good line and length frustrates Axar, who gets just a single. A low full toss yields only one for Tilak. Axar swings and misses, and the umpire calls a wide. He then plays a single to short third, where Theekshana dives to his right and fields it smartly. Tilak moves to 49. A tidy over from Chameera.
Axar finishes with a flourish, hitting 6 to take India past 200. Thirteen runs come off the 20th over, with India finishing at 202/5. Axar remains not out on 21 off 15 balls, and Tilak is unbeaten on 49 off 34 balls.
Axar walks in and swings but misses. Another dot ball follows before he gets off the mark with a single. Tilak responds with a boundary, including a stylish scoop shot, and adds two more to finish the over.
Seven runs and a wicket come off the 17th over, India 169/5. A 200-run total now looks difficult for India.
Hardik walks in. He lets a short ball go, which balloons over his head and is called a wide. Hardik gets off the mark with a single, and the batters exchange singles for the rest of the over.
India score 12 runs in the 16th over but lose a wicket, moving to 162/4.
Suryakumar Yadav comes in at No. 3 and gets off the mark with a single, though the umpire calls it a wide, much to Theekshanas frustration. Abhishek Sharma follows with a crisp boundary. On the next ball, Abhishek hangs back and flicks it toward short third, but a diving fielder gets a strong hand to it, saving a boundary.
After two overs, India have added 14 runs and lost a wicket, bringing the total to 22/1.
Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka: 'We're going to bowl first. We know we can't qualify for the final, but it's still an important game for us. The pitch looks good, and our aim is to restrict India to around 170-175.'
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav: 'We'll just continue doing what we've been doing. We were actually looking to bat first, but it's a good atmosphere and a good game. Bumrah and Dube are out, with Arshdeep and Harshit coming in.'
© 2026 Rediff.com - Investor Information - Advertise with us - Disclaimer - Privacy Policy - Sitemap - Feedback - About us - Terms of use - Grievances
