The 2018 Nidahas trophy begins with the hosts Sri Lanka’s victory over the Indian cricket team. Sri Lanka claimed a solid 5-wicket victory against the new looking Indian team in the opening encounter of the T20I tri-series.
Sri Lanka elected to field first after winning the toss. Indian stand-in skipper and opener Rohit Sharma was dismissed for a duck in the very first over of the match. The comeback man Suresh Raina also failed to utilise his chance as he scored only 1 run before getting bowled.
Also look: Mid Innings - Nidahas Trophy (SL vs Ind)
Another opener Shikhar Dhawan played an important role to build up India’s innings. Along with Manish Pandey, Dhawan put 95-runs partnership for the third wicket which helped the team to put a good total on the board.
Dhawan completed his brilliant half-century in 30 balls. Just after Dhawan’s half-century, Pandey was sent back to the pavilion for 37 runs. After that dismissal, Dhawan put another important 49-runs partnership for the fourth wicket along with Rishabh Pant.
Also watch: Mature Dhawan brings up his fifth T20I fifty
Dhawan was just 10 runs short from his well-deserving century when he was caught out on 90 runs (49 balls). In his innings, Dhawan hit 6 fours and 6 sixes. While Dinesh Karthik was not out on 13 runs off 6 balls, Rishabh Pant was dismissed in the last ball of that innings after scoring 23 runs (23 balls). As a result, India put total 174/5 at the end of 20 overs.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, right-pacer Dushmantha Chameera (2/33) took two wickets while Nuwan Pradeep (1/38), Jeevan Mendis (1/21) and Danushka Gunathilaka (1/16) claimed a wicket each.
In reply, Sri Lanka began their innings with attacking mood. After losing their opener Kusal Mendis (11) cheaply, another opener Danushka Gunathilaka and no.3 batsman Kusal Perera put a firing 58-runs partnership in only 21 balls. While Sri Lanka managed to score 75 runs (75/2) at the end of the powerplay, that second-wicket partnership set the tone for the hosts which they chased down the target comfortably.
Kusal Perera scored 66 runs while the other batsmen contributed enough for the hosts to secure a fresh victory. Sri Lanka reached the target with 9 balls to spare after losing 5 wickets. Dasun Shanaka and Thisara Perera remained unbeaten on 15 and 22 runs respectively.
Washington Sundar (2/28) and Yuzvendra Chahal (2/37) grabbed two wickets each while Jaydev Unadkat (1/35) was able to take a wicket.
Indian debutant player Vijay Shankar bowled just two overs where he conceded 15 runs without taking any wicket.
Sri Lankan cricketer Kusal Perera received the Player of the Match award for his match-winning knock.
Now we will look at the some Twitter reactions of the match, where the Twitteries blaming India’s poor bowling
One can't really blame the young inexperienced bowling line-up.#MenInBlue definitely missing @BhuviOfficial & @Jaspritbumrah93 for death overs. Batting performance except @SDhawan25 fireworks was mediocre.@vijayshankar260, @RishabPant777 deserve more chances.#IndvsSL #T20I
— Mahim Bhandari (@MahimB_Goa) March 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/ArchanaGhm1126/status/971069392690798593
https://twitter.com/ajoy_dhara/status/971069202797768705
#Pathetic bowling ! @BCCI
And the captain @ImRo45 did not give any great impression too while leading the team, in any of the disciplines! #INDvSL #INDvsSL #NidahasTrophy— Bobby / Seenoo 🇮🇳 బాబీ / శీనూ 🇮🇳 (@AbodeOfLakshmi) March 6, 2018
@anuragpathak33 @Holycow_17 @IamAjinkya14
Sri lanka thrashed weak Indian bowling line up #INDvSL #triseries #IndvsSL— Nachiket22 (@Nskofficial22) March 6, 2018
Missed @imVkohli 'S aggression,
Missed @msdhoni behind the stumps…. I guess many Indians missed it too! #IndvsSL #T20— Anurita Singh (@senoritanu) March 6, 2018
#INDvsSL poor show by bowlers.
Bad fielding. #Disdainful.— Gautam (@rokade_gautam) March 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/miltonroyappa/status/971068015411265536
Bad day for team India…..but a great knock by #Dhawan…. #SLvIND
— Puneet Gupta (@impunner1998) March 6, 2018
Some praising for Shikhar Dhawan’s knock
Shikhar Dhawan 90 off 49. Everyone else 70 off 65 so far!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 6, 2018
When in form, Shikhar Dhawan can be brutal with bowlers. Described such exotic arcs with the bat, difficult to set field for him
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 6, 2018
Shikhar Dhawan's loving the 💙!
Consistent in 🇿🇦 and carrying on the rich vein of form. Edging closer (89*) to his maiden T20I 💯 🙌#PlayBold #SLvIND— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) March 6, 2018
Top knock jatt ji 👌👌 @SDhawan25 well done guys good luck for the next game 🇮🇳🤙👍
— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) March 6, 2018
Well played @SDhawan25 but hard luck to get your first @ton in t20s…
— Santhosh yadav (@SAM143y) March 6, 2018
@SDhawan25 's superb knock of 90(49) went in vain as Sri Lanka chased down 174 in the 19th over thanks to a fiery innings of 66(37) from M.Perera. #NidahasTrophy #SLvIND
— Xain (@imxain) March 6, 2018
