The young Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi proved to be a nightmare for former Sri Lankan captains Wanindu Hasaranga and Dasun Shanaka in the third T20I of the series. The match, held on July 28 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, saw Suryakumar Yadav’s India face off against Charith Asalanka’s Sri Lanka. Expectations were high for Hasaranga and Shanaka when they came to the crease, but both players faltered under pressure.
Ravi Bishnoi dismantled their stumps in the 17th over of the first innings. On the third ball of the over, Bishnoi bowled a 94 kmph googly to Shanaka, who only managed an inside edge before watching his stumps shatter. Hasaranga followed, attempting a slog sweep against another googly but failing miserably, as the ball zipped past his bat and crashed into the stumps.
Sri Lanka managed to post a total of 161/9 while batting first, with Kusal Perera standing out by scoring 53 runs. The Indian bowling unit performed well, just as they had in the first T20I, where they restricted Sri Lanka to a defendable score of 213/7.
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Arshdeep Singh and Mohammed Siraj, who have a knack for early breakthroughs, initially struggled as the Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, launched an aggressive assault. They reached 55/0 by the end of the powerplay. Despite the strong start, Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to reintroduce Arshdeep Singh paid off when he dismissed Mendis in the 9th over, stemming the flow of runs.
.@bishnoi0056 entangles the Sri Lankan batters in a masterful web of spin 🕸️
Watch the action from #SLvIND LIVE now on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, Sony Sports Ten 4 & Sony Sports Ten 5 🙌 🔥#SonySportsNetwork #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/KvfLRxXusN
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 28, 2024
Nissanka continued his onslaught with solid support from Perera. However, the game’s momentum shifted dramatically in the 15th over when Axar Patel claimed Nissanka’s wicket, reducing Sri Lanka from 140/1 to 170/10. Patel also took Perera’s wicket in the same over, while Charith Asalanka was bowled out by Bishnoi.
Sri Lanka, still hopeful with Shanaka and Hasaranga at the crease, saw their dreams dashed as both were dismissed for 0 and 2 runs, respectively. India eventually secured a 43-run victory, with Riyan Parag emerging as the top wicket-taker, claiming three wickets. Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel each took two wickets, while Bishnoi and Siraj contributed one wicket each.
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This comprehensive performance by India highlighted their dominance in the series, with their bowlers effectively countering the Sri Lankan batsmen and ensuring a strong finish. Bishnoi’s critical wickets of Shanaka and Hasaranga underscored his value to the team, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure and deliver crucial breakthroughs.
