Bowlers, Suryakumar Star In India's 38-Run Win Over Sri Lanka In 1st T20I

Cricket Image for Bowlers, Suryakumar Star In India's 38-Run Win Over Sri Lanka In 1st T20I (Image Source: Twitter)

Bowlers, led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and Suryakumar Yadav's timely fifty helped India beat Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I at Colombo on Sunday. 

Sri Lanka, chasing a target of 165, got off to a decent start, scoring 46 in the powerplay despite losing Minod Bhanuka early. However, Indian bowlers kept taking wickets at regular intervals to keep the pressure on the opposition. 

Charith Asalanka and Ashen Bhandara looked threatening when they shared a 40-run partnership in 35 balls for the fourth wicket. Hardik Pandya got the timely breakthrough to remove Bhandara, which also triggered a lower-order collapse. 

Deepak Chahar took two wickets in one over to completely turn the game in favor of India, in which he removed dangerous-looking Asalanka on 44. The next four wickets didn't take much time to fall as Sri Lanka got all out for 126. 

Earlier, after being asked to bat first, debutant Prithvi Shaw got out on the very first ball off a beauty from Dushmantha Chameera. Sanju Samson and Shikhar Dhawan smashed 51 runs in the powerplay to give the team a good start. 

Samson hit 27 before Wanindu Hasaranga got him LBW, which brought Suryakumar Yadav to the crease. Dhawan and Yadav shared a 62-run stand for the third wicket in 48 balls before the former got caught off Chamika Karunaratne's delivery for 46. Surya hit another fifty in just 34 balls before Hasaranga got him out. Ishan Kishan's 20 off 14 gave India a good finish. 

Brief Score: 

India - 164/5 (Suryakumar Yadav - 50; Dushmantha Chameera - 2/24) 
Sri Lanka - 126/10 in 18.3 overs (Charith Asalanka - 44; Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 4/22)