Tag: Sri Lanka vs India

Sri Lanka will come in “fresh” for an Asia Cup Super Four clash against India likely to be playing for a third consecutive day, their coach said Monday.

India’s match against arch-rivals Pakistan spilt over into a reserve day on Monday after only 24.1 overs, with the 50-over contest acting as a prelude to their big battle in the upcoming ODI World Cup.

Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lanka, who won the last edition of the Asia Cup — played in the T20 format — began their Super Four with a win over Bangladesh on Saturday. Another victory would improve their chances of making the final on September 17.

“With a team like India, you never know, but obviously they are playing three days in a row,” assistant coach Naveed Nawaz told reporters. “We have got a bit of a break since the last game, so the boys are fresh for tomorrow. That can be good for us.”

Sri Lanka remain unbeaten in the tournament after winning both their group matches while India are still searching for their first win in the Super Four stage.

“If we plan to play good cricket, if we execute our plans and go into the best version of ourselves in the middle against India — obviously the result will be favourable for us,” Nawaz said.

Only India have won more Asia Cup titles than Sri Lanka, who have often spoiled the India-Pakistan party in the final.

In the last edition, they beat Pakistan to lift the title in Dubai.

“Our boys are very resilient when it comes to handling pressure,” said Nawaz, pointing out that Sri Lanka have been without some of their first-choice players in the past two editions of the tournament.

One name to watch out for is up-and-coming fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana.

The 20-year-old has made an impression with his slinging action and toe-crushing yorkers similar to his hero Lasith Malinga.

Pathirana shone for MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings as they captured this year’s Indian Premier League title.

“I am sure MS and Chennai would have played a part in his development, but Pathirana is a product of Sri Lanka cricket,” said Nawaz, when asked about Dhoni’s part in brushing up Pathirana.

“He has played two Under-19 World Cups with us, he has been an identified product, and he has been in the development programmes of Sri Lanka Cricket.”

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 166 to help India beat Sri Lanka by 317 runs and record the highest-ever victory margin in a one-day international as they swept the series 3-0 on Sunday.

Kohli’s third century in his last four matches and a 116 by opener Shubman Gill powered India to 390-5 in Thiruvananthapuram.

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj then returned impressive figures of 4-32 as India bowled out the tourists for 72 in 22 overs as India went past New Zealand’s 290-run thrashing of Ireland in 2008.

A 131-run second-wicket stand between Gill and Kohli stood out after India elected to bat first.

Gill put on 95 runs for the opening wicket with skipper Rohit Sharma, who made 42, to set the tone for the team’s batting domination.

Rohit missed out on a fifty after he fell to Chamika Karunaratne but Gill kept up the attack with Kohli and raised his second ODI hundred, celebrating it with a fist bump.

Gill smashed Jeffrey Vandersay for four fours in the over after the ton, but was soon bowled off a slower delivery from Kasun Rajitha.

“King Kohli” put on another century partnership with Shreyas Iyer, who hit 38, and went on to record the ton with his arms and bat raised to an applauding crowd.

The ball before Kohli got his hundred saw a nasty collision at the square-leg boundary between Vandersay and Ashen Bandara, with both fielders stretchered off.

Dunith Wellalage came in as a concussion substitute for Vandersay and batted for the tourists at number eight.

Kohli changed gears after his 46th ODI century — three behind Sachin Tendulkar’s all-time record of 49 — as he smashed Karunaratne for two successive sixes.

Kohli, who surpassed Sri Lankan great Mahela Jayawardene’s 12,650 ODI runs to enter the top five all-time run getters, reached his 150 in 106 balls and finished off with 13 fours and eight sixes.

Sri Lanka were never in the chase after Mohammed Siraj struck thrice in his first five overs including the wickets of Avishka Fernando, for one, and Kusal Mendis, bowled on four.

The tourists kept losing wickets to Siraj’s pace and swing and the quick also ran out Karunaratne with a direct throw that caught the batsman off guard and out of his crease at the striker’s end.

Mohammed Shami and Kuldeep Yadav picked two wickets each to flatten Sri Lanka’s batting with 28 overs to spare, with the tourists losing nine wickets and injured Bandara not batting.

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KOLKATA: Sri Lanka succumbed to their second successive defeat as Kuldeep Yadav and KL Rahul-inspired India overcame a few hiccups to clinch the second ODI with a four-wicket victory and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

The wicketkeeper-batter Rahul played a pivotal role in guiding India home in a tricky run-chase that embarked with a poor start as the hosts lost four wickets for a mere 86 runs in the 15th over with captain Rohit Sharma and star batter Virat Kohli perishing cheaply.

Rahul stitched an anchoring fifth-wicket 75-run partnership with Hardik Pandya, who fell after a crucial 36-run knock in 53 deliveries that featured four boundaries.

Following his departure, Rahul then put on another vital partnership that powered India closer to triumph as his sixth-wicket stand with Axar Patel added 30 runs.

The right-handed batter top-scored for India with an unbeaten 64-run knock in 103 deliveries, laced with six boundaries, while India’s hero with the ball also chipped in the run chase with an unbeaten run-a-ball 10.

Chamika Karunaratne and Lahiru Kumara bagged two wickets each, while Kasun Rajitha and Dhananjaya de Silva made one scalp each.

Batting first after winning the toss, Sri Lanka endured a fierce attack from Kuldeep and Mohammed Siraj, who picked up three wickets each as the touring side bundled for 215 in the 40th over.

At one stage, Sri Lanka were looking pretty solid to put up a big total amid the second-wicket partnership between Nuwanidu Fernando and wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis as the duo added 73 runs.

Kuldeep then provided a much-needed breakthrough to India as he trapped Mendis in his legs for 34 which consequently, triggered the touring side’s batting collapse.

Fernando unluckily became a part of the frustrating collapse as he got run out soon after amassing his half-century. The young batter remained the top-scorer for Sri Lanka with 50 off 63 deliveries.

Sri Lanka then could not recover from the collapse and was soon bundled out for a mere 215 despite a fighting 32-run knock by Dunith Wellalage as the remaining batters seemed clueless against the Indian bowling attack.

Kuldeep and Siraj claimed three wickets each for India, while Umran Malik bagged two.

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GUWAHATI: India’s star batter Virat Kohli amassed his 45th ODI and 73rd international century to power his side to a dominating 67-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first ODI of the three-match series here on Tuesday.

The right-handed batter survived two dropped catches on 52 and 81 before going on to hit a record-equalling ODI century and played a pivotal role in the team’s triumph.

Batting first after being invited by the Sri Lankan captain, the Indian batting line-up displayed a combined effort to post a massive 373/7 in their allotted 50 overs.

Skipper Rohit Sharma and his opening partner Shubman Gill laid a solid foundation as they put on a 143-run opening partnership with both scoring half-centuries.

Rohit, who missed India’s 2-1 T20I series triumph, scripted a strong start to the ODI series as he scored a quickfire 83 off just 67 deliveries with the help of nine boundaries and three sixes, while Gill fell after scoring a 60-ball 70.

Following the openers’ departure, Kohli Kohli stood firm and despite losing partners at the other end, carried on charging the Sri Lankan bowlers.

The right-handed batter top-scored for India with a record-setting 113 off a mere 87 deliveries that witnessed the ball crossing the fence 13 times including a maximum.

Besides the trio, wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul remained the notable run-getter with his vital 39-run knock and stitched a 90-run partnership with Kohli for the fourth wicket.

Kasun Rajitha made three scalps for Sri Lanka but leaked aplenty while Chamika Karunaratne, Dasun Shanaka and Dhananjaya de Silva struck out a batter apiece.

Set to chase a mammoth 378, Sri Lanka could manage to amass 306/8 despite a fighting century from their skipper Shanaka, who remained unbeaten on 108 off just 88 deliveries including 12 boundaries and three sixes.

The touring side had a dismal start to the run chase as they lost two quick wickets including Kusal Mendis bagging a golden duck.

Nissanka (23) made an effort to revive the pursuit with his valiant batting and a 72-run fourth-wicket partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 47.

Sri Lanka slumped to 206-8 in the 38th over, but Shanaka kept the game alive with an unbroken 100-run stand with Rajitha; also bringing up his century in style with a four and a six on the last two deliveries.

Umran Malik led the bowling attack for India with 3/58, while Mohammed Siraj bagged two wickets.

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PUNE: Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka led the way with a record-breaking half-century and two wickets to script a series-levelling victory over India in the second T20I of the three-match series on Thursday.

Batting first, Sri Lanka exploit India’s bowling errors and raised a mammoth 206/6 in the allotted 20 overs at the back of half-centuries from skipper Shanaka and opening batter Kusal Mendis.

The touring side enjoyed a decent start to their innings as they raised 55/0 at the end of the powerplay while the second over of the innings from Arshdeep Singh, who bowled a hat-trick of no-balls turned out to be a momentum booster for Sri Lanka.

Mendis, who appeared to be in top notch, brought up his vital half-century with a six to Yuzvendra Chahal but the latter struck soon after to provide India with a much-needed breakthrough.

The wicketkeeper batter scored 52 off just 31 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and four sixes.

Sri Lanka then began to lose wickets at regular intervals and soon slipped to 110/4 in the 14th over with another opening batter Pathum Nissanka also walking back after a cautious 33 off 35.

Left-handed batter Charith Asalanka then stitched an important 28-run partnership with Shanaka before India’s pace sensation Umran Malik brought an end to the former’s quickfire cameo of 37 runs in just 19 deliveries.

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva’s golden duck pushed Sri Lanka further on the backfoot before skipper Shanaka stood up for his team and turned the tables on India with late fireworks.

The right-handed batter took on the Indian bowlers in the death overs and smashed the fastest half-century for Sri Lanka in just 20 balls that included two boundaries and six sixes.

Shanaka’s quickfire knock powered Sri Lanka to finish their first innings at a massive total of 206/6.

Umran was the pick of the bowlers for India as he picked up three wickets but leaked 48 runs while Axar Patel was economical for his 4/24.

Set to chase 207, India fell 16 runs short despite a threatening 91-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Patel and top-ranked Suryakumar Yadav.

Sri Lankan bowlers put on a show in defence of the massive total and ran through India’s top order.

Kasun Rajitha breathed fire in the second over of the run chase as he removed two Indian batters – Ishan Kishan (2) and Shubman Gill (5).

The wickets kept tumbling for the hosts as skipper Pandya (12) and Shubman Gill (9) also fell as they looked in deep trouble at 57/5 in the 10th over.

However, all-rounder Patel glimmered a ray of hope for India when he smashed three consecutive sixes off Hasaranga before Yadav joined the thrashing.

Coming to bat at number seven, Axar imitated Shanaka as he too raised his fifty on just 20 deliveries before Yadav also joined the former with a six.

The top-ranked T20I batter, however, soon departed after his half-century and Shivam Mavi began to launch a counterattack afterwards but the required run rate kept mounting and India left 21 runs to chase in the final over.

Skipper Shanaka once again stood up for his team and bowled the final over in a crisp situation and struck out Axar and then Mavi off the final ball.

Following Sri Lanka’s victory, the three-match T20I series will now be decided on Saturday.

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PUNE: India’s young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh registered his name in the unwanted list of bowlers with the most number of no-balls in a T20I during the ongoing second T20I against Sri Lanka.

The left-arm pacer endured the no-balls woes right from the start of his opening spell when he overstepped on the fifth delivery of his first over.

Arshdeep then overstepped twice more while bowling the same delivery and allowing Sri Lankan batter Kusal Mendis to make the most of the free hits as he smashed the former for a boundary and a six.

The left-arm pacer’s miserable first over aided Sri Lanka to gain momentum in the opening overs as the touring side scored 55/0 at the end of the powerplay.

Following his poor first over, Indian captain Hardik Pandya removed Arshdeep from the attack and called Shivam Mavi to bowl the first over.

Later, Pandya recalled Arshdeep to bowl the 19th over and the latter’s second but the misery continued for Arshdeep as he bowled two more no-balls to take his tally to five in the innings.

Following Arshdeep’s no-balls, the left-arm pacer became the second bowler to bowl five no-balls in a T20 international, while also becoming the first Indian bowler to bowl three no-balls in an over in T20Is.

Meanwhile, the pacer has thus far bowled 14 no-balls in his brief T20I career and bowled more than one no-ball in a series on four occasions including Asia Cup 2022.

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MUMBAI: India’s speedster Shivam Mavi produced a scintillating performance with the ball on debut and powered his side to edge the Asian Champions by two runs in the first T20I here at Wankhede Stadium.

Set to chase 163, Sri Lanka fell just two runs short despite skipper Dasun Shanaka’s brisk 45 as spinner Axar Patel denied Asian Champions a victory by successfully defending 13 runs in the crisp last over.

The touring side had a deplorable start as they lost half of their side for just 68 runs in the 11th over in pursuit as Indian pacers Mavi and Umran Malik ran through their top order.

Following the slump, captain Shanaka took the responsibility and anchored the run chase by stitching a vital 40-run partnership with Wanindu Hasarange de Silva, who chipped in with a crucial 21-run cameo before falling to Mavi in the 15th over.

Shanaka then joined hands with Chamika Karunaratne and added a further 21 runs before the former perished. He top-scored for his side with a magnificent 45 off 27 deliveries, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Shanaka’s dismissal saw Sri Lanka lose momentum in the run chase and the first T20I entered into the nerve-wracking final over.

Patel then displayed great grit to bar the Asian Champions from sailing through despite conceding a six on the third delivery and played a pivotal role in the hosts’ triumph.

The enthralling final over also witnessed two run-outs as the Sri Lankans looked desperate to steal the victory but fell short.

Mavi led the bowling attack for India in his debut as he returned with magnificent bowling figures of 4/22, while Malik and Harshal Patel bagged two wickets each.

Batting first, India managed to post 162/5 at the back of Deepak Hooda and Axar’s astounding sixth-wicket partnership as they added 58 runs in 35 deliveries.

Hooda remained the top-scorer for India with an unbeaten 41 off just 23 balls, while Axar scored 31 not out.

Besides the duo, young opening batter Ishan Kishan remained the notable run-getter with his cautious 37-run knock off 29 balls.

For Sri Lanka, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva and Hasarange de Silva made one scalp each.

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DUBAI: Sri Lanka sealed a stunning final-over victory over India in the Asia Cup 2022 Super Four to halt India’s chances for final qualification.

Set to chase 174, Sri Lanka sealed the victory on the second-last delivery of the final over as their skipper Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa stole the final two runs courtesy of over-throw.

The side were off to a flying start to their run chase as the openers – Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis thrashed Indian bowlers in the opening overs and laid a solid foundation with an astounding 97-run partnership.

The pair appeared solid and were looking to drive their team home comfortably before Yuzvendra Chahal’s twin strikes in the 12th over brought India back into the game.

Experienced spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who made his return to the Indian side, provided third breakthrough for India as he removed Danushka Gunathilaka for a mere one.

Chahal then struck again for India in the next over and removed the danger man Mendis and strengthened India’s position in the game. Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with 57 off 37 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and three sixes, while Nissanka followed back with a quick 52.

Following the slump, Shanaka and Rajapaksa held their nerves calm in a tense run chase and completed a thrilling victory over the defending champions as Sri Lanka got to 174/4 in 19.5 overs.

Shanaka scored a magnificent 33 off just 18 deliveries, while Rajapaksa remained unbeaten with a brilliant 25.

Chahal led the bowling attack for India with three wickets, while Ashwin made one scalp.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka put India into bat first after the coin flipped in his favour and the bowlers responded well as they provided a solid start to the hosts by claiming two early wickets.

Batting first, India had a dismal start as they lost KL Rahul and Virat Kohli in quick successions and as a result, slipped to 13/2 in the third over. Rahul could only score six, while Kohli bagged a four-ball duck.

Rohit then joined hands with Suryakumar Yadav and launched a counterattack on Sri Lankan bowlers as the pair amassed 97 runs for the third wicket in just 57 deliveries.

The pair appeared solid and seemed to have brought India back into the game before Chamika Karunaratne removed the danger man Rohit, who top-scored for India with a blistering 72 off 41 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and four sixes.

India’s top-ranked T20I batter Suryakumar also walked back after two overs in an attempt to scoop the ball over the wicketkeeper but ended up handing a straightforward catch to the third man. He scored 34 off 29 deliveries with the help of a boundary and a six.

The men in blue then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate and in the end finished at 173/8 in the allotted 20 overs.

Madushanka led the way for Sri Lanka with the ball as he bagged three wickets for 24, while Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka claimed two each. Maheesh Theekshana, on the other hand, made one scalp.

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PALLEKELE: India’s right-arm pacer Renuka Singh shone with her career-best WODI bowling figures before the openers steered the touring side to a dominant victory over Sri Lanka to attain an unassailable 2-0 lead.

In a one-sided clash, the dominant touring side outclassed Sri Lanka in both departments to claim the series win with one match left.

Batting first, the Sri Lankan batting line-up failed completely and could only manage to score 173 in the allotted 50 overs as they had no answers to the strong Indian bowling attack.

Ama Kachana, on the other hand, stood up for her team with her career-best 47 not-out, while Nikashi de Silva chipped in with a valiant 32. The rest of the batters, on the other hand, walked back after scoring cheaply.

For India, Renuka led the way with her career-best bowling figures of 4/28, while Meghna Singh and Deepti Sharma bagged two wickets each.

In the run chase, the Indian openers displayed sheer dominance as they remained unmoved by the Sri Lankan bowlers. The pair put on an unbeaten partnership of 174, and assisted India to claim a dominating 10 wickets victory with 146 balls to spare.

Left-handed opener Smriti Mandhana top-scored for the side with an astonishing knock of 94 runs off 83 deliveries, laced with a dozen boundaries including a six, while Shafali Verma remained unbeaten on career-best and run-a-ball 71.

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PALLEKELE: Indian all-rounder Deepti Sharma displayed magnificent all-round performance and bolstered her side to seal a comprehensive four wickets over Sri Lanka in the first ODI.

The young all-rounder Deepti bettered her first inning’s three-for with an unbeaten 22 to steer her side to the victory in 38 overs.

Set to chase a mere 172, the touring side had a dismal start as they lost two wickets for a combined score of 17. Opening batter Shafali Verma and the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur then anchored the run chase with their brilliant 44 runs partnership.

Verma, who was aiming to race up her gritty knock, having smashed two sixes and a boundary for her 35, fell in the 16th over to Inoka Ranaweera as the former charged down the track but missed the ball.

Kaur, on the other hand, held her ground firm and ran into another important partnership for the team. The pair of Kaur and newly-joined Harleen Deol batted sensibly and soon saw their side amassing the hundred runs mark.

Sri Lanka’s pick of the bowlers Ranaweera, however, struck gold for her side as she removed Kaur and Deol in her successive overs and brought her side back in the game. Kaur missed her half-century by six wickets, while Deol managed to score 34.

In her next over, left-arm spinner Ranaweera struck again as she removed Richa Ghosh for a mere six and allowed Sri Lanka to make an exceptional comeback.

The unbeaten 38-run partnership between Deepti and Pooja Vastrakar for the seventh wicket, however, diminished the hopes of Sri Lanka as India ran away with the victory by four wickets and 72 balls to spare.

Ranaweera was the star with the ball for the hosts as she claimed four wickets for a mere 39 runs, while Oshadi Ranasinghe made two scalps.

Batting first, the Indian bowlers wreaked havoc over the Sri Lankan batting line-up and bundled out for a skimpy 171 in the 49th over.

Nikashi de Silva displayed resilience against the strong Indian bowling attack as she played a gritty knock of 43 runs and top-scored‘He’s overdoing it’ Misbah on Kohli’s dominating approach towards bowlers for her side.

Besides her, opener Hasini Perera made a significant contribution with her 37 but that too could not bolster Sri Lanka to a commendable total as the rest of the batters could not count big and perished cheaply.

For India, Deepti and Renuka Singh shone with three-fors, while Vastrakar followed back with her two wickets. Rajeshwari Gayakwad and Kaur, on the other hand, struck out a batter each.

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