Sri Lanka seek middle-order solutions to keep series alive

Overview

Sri Lanka vs India, second T20I
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
July 28, 08:00 local

The visitors got off to a flying start in the T20I leg of the tour, with an emphatic victory in the opening contest. Before the start of the series, skipper Shikhar Dhawan hinted that there would be no room for experimentation in the first couple of games and chances would open up for some of the fringe players only if a victory was sealed ahead of the final game. Krunal Pandya tested positive for COVID-19, leading to the match being postponed by a day. Players in close contact with him were placed in isolation. With this in mind, we might well witness a flurry of changes within the Indian team.

The hosts bowled well in large phases during the first match and also showed some promise with the bat. Captain Dasun Shanaka will hope that these flashes of skills materialize together, as they search for a victory to stay alive in the series. More will be expected from their batters, especially a struggling middle-order.

Remember the last time

Batting first, India registered a score of 164/5 on the board in their 20 overs, courtesy of Suryakumar Yadav's half-century. In reply, despite getting off to a steady start, the Lankans faltered in the middle-overs, finding it difficult to counter the spin of Yuzvendra Chahal and debutant Varun Chakravarthy. The clever skills of Bhuvneshwar Kumar also did the trick as he picked up four wickets, with the visitors sealing a comfortable victory by 38 runs.

What they said

Shikhar Dhawan (India captain): :He (Suryakumar Yadav) is a great player and we enjoy watching him bat. He took the pressure from me and the way he plays calculated shots was amazing to watch."

Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka captain): "164 was chaseable on this wicket. Bowlers upfront started well but our batsmen faltered. Asalanka and Bandara's wicket was the turning point for us. I thought our bowlers did an amazing job on this wicket. I hope boys come out and deliver for us. I am proud of the debutants today."