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

In the second Twenty20 International (T20I) at Pallekele on Sunday, July 28, India defeated Sri Lanka by seven wickets (by DLS method), earning their second straight series after winning the T20 World Cup in 2024. India gained an unstoppable 2-0 lead in the three-match series as a result of this victory.

After winning the toss, Suryakumar Yadav asked Sri Lanka to bat first on a worn pitch. Before the former was removed, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka led their team to a modest start, scoring 26 runs in the opening four overs. Nissanka made a 24-ball 32, continuing his fine form from the first Twenty20 International. He did this by hitting several stunning boundaries.

Nissanka and Kusal Perera shared a 54-run partnership for the second wicket in just 36 balls. Following the removal of the right-handed batsman, Kamindu Mendis and Perera scored an additional fifty runs in thirty-four balls, providing the home team with a commanding 130.2 after fifteen overs.

Nevertheless, Hardik Pandya claimed the two set hitters’ wickets with a superb 16th over of bowling. At that point, India needed Perera’s wicket (53 off 34 balls) desperately since he was looking threatening. In the first Twenty20 International, Sri Lanka lost their final nine wickets for thirty runs, and in the final overs on Sunday, the nightmare returned to haunt them. They finished with a total of 161/9 in their 20 overs, scoring just 31 runs in the final five overs while losing seven wickets. The best bowler in the group was Ravi Bishnoi, who finished with outstanding figures of 3/26 from four overs. He was well-supported by Hardik, Arshdeep Singh, and Axar Patel, who each took two wickets.

India thrashes home in a rain-shortened match

The Men in Blue started the innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sanju Samson, who came in for Shubman Gill (neck spasm) for this match. Following a lengthy rain delay that ended after just three balls and six runs, the tourists were handed a DLS amended target of 78 runs in eight overs.

Given India’s extensive batting lineup, Sri Lanka had a formidable challenge. In the second over, Samson was out for a golden duck, but Jaiswal and Suryakumar put together some incredible partnerships to score 39 runs off of just 19 balls. After Pandya was demoted to No. 4 and the Indian skipper was ejected for a 12-ball 26. Yashasvi produced a massive maximum off Wanindu Hasaranga, bringing the required run-rate below six. The visitors needed 13 runs off the final 14 balls, but the leg-spinner punched out the next ball.

Also Read: SL vs IND 2024: Sri Lanka vs India, 2nd T20I – Who Said What?

The final ball of Hasaranga’s over was hammered for a six by Pandya, reducing the requirement to six off the final two overs. In the last over, the Baroda all-rounder struck back-to-back boundaries off Matheesha Pathirana to send India home with nine balls remaining.

Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to the pulsating second T20I:

The GG era begins with a T20I series win against Sri Lanka.💥🇮🇳#GautamGambhir #T20Is #Sportskeeda #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/iw1zEx1EfW

— Manik Diggi (@MDiggi35602) July 28, 2024

India won the 2nd match and clinched the 1st T20 series under SKY and Gautam leadership! 👏 #SLvIND

— Asim Gorsi 🇵🇰 (@asimgorsi10) July 28, 2024

77 bilateral T20I series wins for India now – the most for any team in the world. Congrats, padosiyo 🇮🇳🔥🔥#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/onO8QhAR2g

— Malik Hammad (@Hammad_Iqbal786) July 28, 2024

– No Dushmantha Chameera
– No Binura Fernando
– No Nuwan Thushara
– No Dilshan Madushanka

Sri Lanka had FOUR key pacers missing tonight, but they still gave their best against India. Well done 🇱🇰🇮🇳🔥#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/kFl3K5wTdK

— Malik Hammad (@Hammad_Iqbal786) July 28, 2024

INDIA WINS THE T20I SERIES AGAINST SRI LANKA. 🇮🇳#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/IaYz7XVu7j

— SPORTSBUZZINFO (@Sportsbuzinfo) July 28, 2024

Helicopter straight into the stratosphere ☄️🚀#WhistleForBlue #SLvIND #HamayunSaeed pic.twitter.com/u4SGn3iLOG

— Waleed_Official (@waleed_officil) July 28, 2024

And the T20I series goes to India! 🇮🇳🏆

India clinched the 3-match T20I series 2-0 against Sri Lanka with one more to go. 👌

Absolute dominance by Team India over Sri Lanka. 🤯🔥#TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/RKxF5CSufn

— Saabir Zafar (@Saabir_Saabu01) July 28, 2024

Series pocketed with a game to spare! 💼

Indian batters run riot in a rain curtailed game to make it 2 out of 2. 🔥#PlayBold #TeamIndia #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/E51xOQCG21

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) July 28, 2024

AND THAT’S A WRAP! #TeamIndia seal the series with a stormy finish 😍🏆#SLvIND pic.twitter.com/RAO2yuy1Us

— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) July 28, 2024

India ensure series victory with second win in a row 👊#SLvIND: https://t.co/ruw5VGncoa pic.twitter.com/YNmzxFIhI8

— ICC (@ICC) July 28, 2024

2/2 for team India in SL. Good combined effort from the bowlers and then batters ensured no hiccups in the chase. Biggest plus so far has been Riyan Parag’s bowling. 3 wkts last game and bowled four overs today. Well played 👏🏼 #SLvIND

— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) July 28, 2024