In the first T-20 match played between Sri Lanka and India in Pallekele, Team India won by 43 runs. Batting first, the visiting team set a target of 214 runs for Sri Lanka, in response to which the host team could score only 170 runs after losing all wickets in 19.2 overs. With this victory, the Indian team has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Runs came from the bat of Suryakumar-Pant

Earlier, after losing the toss, the Indian team came out to bat first and scored 213 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 20 overs. Openers Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave the team a great start and added 74 runs for the first wicket. However, after the powerplay, Shubman Gill was out after scoring 34 runs. After this, Yashasvi Jaiswal could contribute 40 runs with the help of 5 fours and 2 sixes in 21 balls.

In the middle order, Suryakumar Yadav played a captaincy innings and scored 58 runs in 26 balls with the help of 8 fours and 2 sixes. Apart from this, Rishabh Pant played an innings of 49 runs in 33 balls, which included 6 fours and 1 six. For Sri Lanka, Mathisha Pathirana took four wickets for 40 runs in four overs.

Nissanka-Mendis’ innings went in vain

In response, despite a great start, Sri Lanka’s team was all out for 170 runs in 19.2 overs and lost the match by 43 runs. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave the team a very steady start. Both played slowly in the beginning, but then changed gears and made a partnership of 84 runs for the first wicket.

Kusal Mendis played an innings of 45 runs with the help of 7 fours and a six in just 27 balls. Apart from this, Pathum Nissanka also played a tremendous innings of 79 runs in 48 balls. In his innings, Nissanka hit 7 fours and four sixes. As long as he was on the crease, Sri Lanka’s hopes were alive, but Akshar Patel dismissed him in the 15th over. After this, in the same over, Akshar also showed the way to the pavilion to Kusal Perera (20).

Among the later batsmen, Kamindu Mendis (12) did show some resistance, but apart from him no one else could do anything special. For India, Riyan Parag took the maximum of three wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Akshar Patel took 2-2 wickets, while Mohammad Siraj and Ravi Bishnoi got 1-1 wickets.