India clinch series in rain-hit T20 after Sri Lanka collapse

AFP | Kandy

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal powered India to a seven-wicket win in the rain-hit second T20 international against Sri Lanka and clinch the series on Sunday. Chasing a rain-revised target of 78 in eight overs, India raced to victory with nine balls to spare at Kandy’s Pallekele International Stadium.

India took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series to mark a strong beginning with their new-age team un-der Suryakumar and coach Gautam Gambhir.

Stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja retired from T20 internationals after the team’s World Cup triumph in Barbados last month.

Suryakumar has shown early signs of leading from the front after playing key parts in the two wins including his quickfire 26 in the latest outing.

“We spoke about this before this tournament, what brand of cricket we want to play,” the 33-year-old Suryakumar said.

“Even though it was a shorter target, this is the template we want going ahead.” Bowlers set up victory after Ravi Bishnoi and Hardik Pandya shared five wickets between them to limit Sri Lanka to 161-9 despite Kusal Perera’s 53.

Sri Lanka collapsed from 130-2 to 140-6 and lost three further wickets, including two in the final over by Axar Patel.

Rain interrupted India’s chase after just three balls and six runs without a wicket lost when intermittent showers kept the players off the field for over an hour.

Play resumed with revised playing conditions and Suryakumar put on 39 runs with left-handed Jaiswal, who smashed 30, after Sanju Samson fell for a duck.