Bishnoi shines as India wins rain-affected match to clinch series

India’s outstanding bowling display was highlighted by a seven-wicket triumph in a rain-shortened encounter in Pallekele, thanks to a three-wicket haul from Ravi Bishnoi. This gave the visitors an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India easily pursued the runs after being set a rain-adjusted target of 78 in 8 overs, with Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav among the runs once more.

What made the two sides different from one another?

At the end of the 15th over, Sri Lanka were 130/2, but they were forced to settle with a below-par total of 161/9 when they needed to step it up. On a used surface, India may have had difficulty reaching the target of over 180, for which Sri Lanka appeared well-positioned. However, similar to the first Twenty20 International, the visitors choked Sri Lanka in the last few overs of their batting innings, allowing them just 31 runs in the final five overs at a cost of seven wickets. It was a crucial phase of play that determined the outcome of both the game and the series.

Sri Lanka

PowerPlay: Indian bowlers short in the PowerPlay again

Phase score: 54/1 [8x4s, 1x6s]

In the absence of Jasprit Bumrah once more, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera made sure that Sri Lanka had a successful PowerPlay, catching India off guard. Especially Nissanka looked like she had very much continued up where she left off from the previous night, riding Mohammed Siraj’s wobbly start to her advantage this time.

And as if to show that Sri Lanka would not be backing down, Perera struck a boundary first ball after Kusal Mendis was caught in front of the circle off a slower delivery from Arshdeep Singh. That’s precisely how it transpired. Even though India bowled just one over of spin inside the first six this evening, Perera followed that over with a six and a four off Siraj, so the shift in strategy didn’t result in more success up front.

Middle overs: Kusal Perera carries Sri Lanka

Phase score: 76/1 [9x4s, 1x6s]

With their spin trio of Axar Patel, Riyan Parag, and Ravi Bishnoi splitting the burden equally, India bowled a pace over from overs 7 to 15. The only breakthrough in this period came from Bishnoi, who trapped Nissanka in front of the off-stump with a googly, despite Parag finding the greatest spin and bounce on the used pitch. After being dropped by Rinku Singh at 32, Perera went on to score fifty runs in 31 balls and dominate a fifty-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis for the second wicket.

Death overs: Hara-kiri from Sri Lanka

Phase score: 31/7 [0x4s, 2x6s]

Similar to previous night, India controlled Sri Lanka’s final few overs of their innings. The hosts collapsed today, losing 7 wickets for 31 runs after losing 9 wickets for 30 runs yesterday, limiting them to a below-par total of 161.

The collapse began with Rinku Singh, who made up for his previous error with two excellent catches that ended the innings of Kamindu and Perera, in the 16th over bowled by Pandya. Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga were both removed by Bishnoi in the subsequent over, doubling his total with 3 for 26 as a legspinner. The only time Sri Lanka reached the rope following Perera’s dismissal was in the 20th over, when Ramesh Mendis struck a six to remove the shackles, demonstrating how tightly India was controlling the match.

India

The chase: A victory in a canter

Phase score: 81/3 [10x4s, 4x6s]

A strong downpour three balls into the run-chase forced the players off the pitch for more than an hour. After the play restarted, Jaiswal wasted little time in hitting the first delivery for a boundary after the break, revising India’s aim to 78 runs in 8 overs.

Also Read: Twitter reactions: India win series after Sri Lankan batting collapses again

After Shubman Gill (spasm) was hurt, Sanju Samson entered the game and attempted a first-ball duck after misreading a carrom ball from Maheesh Theekshana. However, Jaiswal did not let up and destroyed Hasaranga as soon as the two-over PowerPlay was recalculated. With nine balls remaining, India managed to chase the DLS-adjusted total with the assistance of Hardik Pandya’s nine-ball 22*. Suryakumar Yadav, the Player of the Match from the opening Twenty20 International, was impressive once again and hit a hat-trick of boundaries against Theekshana.