On Monday night, India beat the hosts Sri Lanka in the fourth T20I of the tri-series 2018 Nidahas Trophy at R.Premadasa Stadium (Colombo). While Sri Lanka put 152/9 (19 overs) on the board, India successfully chased down that target in 17.3 overs after losing 4 wickets.
The match was started in delay due to the wet outfield. As a result, both sides got 19-overs for their innings. India decided to field first after winning the toss.
During the powerplay, Sri Lanka lost their two wickets and scored 53 runs. Kusal Mendis and Upul Tharanga put an important 62-runs partnership for the third wicket which helped the hosts’ side to build up their innings.
However, Sri Lankan batting faced continuous trouble after the third wicket partnership was broken. While Tharanga was dismissed for 22 runs, Mendis (55) soon lost his wicket after completing the half-century. None of the other batsmen was able to reach the 20-runs mark in that innings.
At the end of the 19 overs, Sri Lanka was on 152/9.
Indian bowlers did well in the last few overs that checked the run-rate hugely. Shardul Thakur was the most successful bowler in that innings as he claimed four wickets (4/27) including two in the last over. Apart from that, Washington Sundar (2/21) took two wickets while Jaydev Unadkat (1/33), Yuzvendra Chahal (1/34) and Vijay Shankar (1/30) picked up a piece of wicket each.
Also watch: Mid innings report of the match
Chasing down the target, India managed to score 50/2 at the end of the powerplay. Despite losing wickets in regular interval, India never let the match go out of their hands.
While the openers failed cheaply (Rohit Sharma 11 and Shikhar Dhawan 8), two comeback players lost their wickets due to lack of concentrations (Suresh Raina 27 and KL Rahul 18).
After then, Manish Pandey (42*) and Dinesh Karthik (39*) smoothly finished the game with an unbroken 68-runs partnership for the fifth wicket. India reached the target in 17.3 overs after losing four wickets. As a result, they won the match by 6 wickets with 9 balls to spare.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Akila Dananjaya (2/19) dismissed two Indian batsmen while Nuwan Pradeep (1/30) and Jeevan Mendis (1/34) claimed a wicket each.
Indian right-arm pacer Shardul Thakur received the Player of the Match award for his superb bowling effort.
Also read: Shardul Thakur surprised people by returning the local train
At the end of the match, India is standing on the top of the table with 4 points while Sri Lanka (2 points) and Bangladesh (2 points) are standing at the no.2 and 3 position respectively.
Here are some Tweets of this match:
Praising highly Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik for superb finishing
https://twitter.com/NiranjanKushw14/status/973264502685761537
https://twitter.com/Virat_FC18/status/973264016939220993
https://twitter.com/Abhinav77raj/status/973264977032183812
https://twitter.com/Diyamurari/status/973263041855815680
🌟👍India beat sri Lanka by 6 wickets, well played Manish nd kartik, congratulations team india 🇮🇳❤ #SLvsIND 👏👏
— Happy Sharing By Dks (@Dksview) March 12, 2018
India Beat Sri Lanka By 6 Wickets. Moral Victory For Sri Lanka. Kudos To Team India. Brilliant Innings Played By Manish Pandey And Dinesh Karthik After Top Order Down Cheaply. 💪🙏🇮🇳 #SLvIND #INDvSL #SLvsIND #INDvsSL
— Sapna 🎀 (@Sapna2Choudhary) March 12, 2018
These are the kind of matches that Manish Pandey makes an impact.
How many times we saw when #KKR loses 2-3 early wickets, this guy stands up.
When top order does well, everyone will score quick runs. You need this type of guys to win tournaments.#SLvsIND— 🅺🅳🆁 (@KDRtweets) March 12, 2018
#ManishPandey yet again, holding the middle order and finishing the game..! Still searching for a No. 4??
#SLvIND #INDvSL #SLvsIND #INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/timYgIbaSv— Queen's Maid (@akshatacrazy) March 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/ViratCricbuzz/status/973263330495352833
Some special words for Shardul Thakur, who received the Player of the Match award
Great Job boys you all are doing well specially @imShard for your best bowling figure and also great knock by @im_manishpandey @ImRaina @DineshKarthik.#INDvSL
— 𝐒𝐤 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐦 𝐀𝐤𝐡𝐭𝐚𝐫 (@Iamshamim__) March 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/siriluthappa/status/973262218044366848
Hurray!! Ind won by 6 wckts against SL in #NidahasTrophy2018 .
Crucial batting @im_manishpandey along with @DineshKarthik .
But the heros are our bowling squad especially @imShard and @washingtons
Now we r on top in table.@BCCI #INDvsSL #nidahastrophy live— Rao Rohan Raj (@Kapoorrohan99) March 12, 2018
All your hard work and dedication are paid off with your win today; it is true people remember you shardul thakur by your name, but the win today tells the story of your indomitable courage. Be the same forever and add many feathers of success to your crown. Congratulation.
— Kishlay (@Kishlay4045) March 12, 2018
On KL Rahul’s hit-wicket dismissal
KL Rahul becomes the first Indian batsman to be hit-wicket in T20I s
— Don Cricket 🏏 (@doncricket_) March 12, 2018
After First ever T20 hit wicket dismissal, KL Rahul be like Badnam hua toh kya hua , naam toh hua 😂😂🔥 #SLvIND #lokeshrahul #india
— Varunraj Nannaware 🇮🇳 (@Varunraj_n) March 12, 2018
An unwanted record for KL Rahul!
What was he doing?#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/V3T6SOpvnr
— The SportsRush (@The_SportsRush) March 12, 2018
Mujhe toh teri lat lag gayi..lag gayi.. -Wickets to Lokesh Rahul#SLvIND #KLRahul
— Chirag (@chir7g) March 12, 2018
When Ramesh-suresh saw KL rahul 😂😂#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/snEU4Xshfp
— Devanshu Kumar (@oldschoolguy__) March 12, 2018
Can't decide whether 'Pairo pe kulhaadi marna' or 'Kulhaadi pe pair maarna' 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/cQGZHrMnQv
— Abhishek ✨ (@ImAbhishek7_) March 12, 2018
