India vs Sri Lanka Highlights 2nd T20I Updates: Axar, SKY Efforts in Vain as SL Win by 16 Runs

Another excellent game of cricket but this time it was Sri Lanka who get over the line and levelled the three-match series 1-1. The Indian bowlers had a rough night at the office, especially Arshdeep Singh who bowled five no-balls which cost India big time in the chase. Umran Malik was the pick of the bowlers for claiming three wickets but he was also expensive by leaking 48 runs in his four overs. Young Shivam Mavi who had a dream debut on Tuesday had a forgettable night where he leaked 53 runs. Dasun Shanaka once again turned out to be the biggest nemesis of Indian team and scored unbeaten 56 runs, while opener Kusal Mendis also scored 52.

In reply, India lost the top-order early with just 21 runs on the scoreboard. Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill and Rahul Tripathi played some loose shots which hurt India. Hardik Pandya also dismissed cheaply for 12. Deepak Hooda failed to replicate his form from the opening match and departed for 9.

Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav shared a crucial 91-run stand to keep India alive in the chase. Interestingly, Axar was the aggressor in the partnership as SKY played the anchor role to support the southpaw. In the end, Shanaka bowled a sensational final over to seal the game for the visitors.

Excellent final over from Dasun Shanaka as he gave just 4 runs from the final over and took the wickets of Axar Patel and Shivam Mavi to seal the game for Sri Lanka. Good comeback from Sri Lanka in the last few overs to pull off a win here. Axar and Suryakumar Yadav gave a very good fight to Sri Lankan team after they were half down for just 57. Patel fought till the final over but Sri Lanka held their nerves to clinch the victory. Sri Lanka (206/6) beat India (190/8) by 16 runs

A good penultimate over from Kasun Rajitha as 12 runs came off it. But the game is still alive as India 21 runs in the last over. Shivam Mavi will face the first ball of the final over. The pressure is on India now as Sri Lanka still hold an edge here. IND 186/6 in 19 overs

Shivam Mavi is displaying his batting credentials here as he pulled one for a maximum over fine-leg then connected one over cover for a boundary and finished it with another six. 33 runs required off the last two overs and these two batters can get the team over line. IND 174/6 in 18 overs

Eight runs came off Maheesh Theekshana’s over as the required run rate get passed 16 now. The pressure is now on Axar Patel to get India over the line but it’s an uphill task and Sri Lanka are firm favourite at the moment. India 157/6 in 17 overs

OUT! Suryakumar Yadav tries to clear the rope once again but fails to get the best timing and gets caught at long-on by Wanindu Hasaranga. Big blow for India at this stage as the new batsman in the middle is Shivam Mavi. IND 148/6 in 15.5 overs

Suryakumar Yadav hits his first fifty of 2023 and he reaches the mark in style with a maximum and Sri Lanka are under pressure now. He took 33 balls to complete his half-century and displayed why he holds the numero uno spot in ICC T20I batsman rankings. IND 146/5 in 14.1 overs

Absolutely sensational batting from Axar Patel as he completes his half-century with a maximum. He took just 20 balls to reach the mark and India are now well back in the game. 15 runs came off the Chamika Karunaratne’s over and the required run rate is now 13.6 which is very much gettable. IND 139/5 in 15 overs

Axar Patel smashed Wanindu Hasaranga for a hat-trick of sixes as India are back in the game now and Sri Lanka are feeling some pressure as Suryakumar Yadav also connected one in the over for a maximum. A very big over for India as 26 runs came off it and the required run rate dropped to 13.83. IND 124/5 in 14 overs

13 runs came off the over as India have decided to take on the bowlers now but they can’t lose any wicket from here as the next batter to come is Shivam Mavi. The partnership between Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav is 41 runs off 23 balls. Interestingly, Axar is playing the aggressor’s role here. IND 98/5 in 13 overs

12 runs came off the over but the required run rate is over 15 and things are not looking good for India. Suryakumar Yadav has to produce something special here to help India get over the line and he will need Axar Patel’s support from the other end too. IND 85/5 in 12 overs

Suryakumar Yadav and Axar Patel are trying to put their foot on the accelerator but Sri Lanka bowlers have been phenomenal tonight are restricting their shots. 9 runs came off the 11th over of the innings. India 73/5 in 11 overs

OUT! It was bound to happen as the required run rate was going to skyrocket. Deepak Hooda tries to play the big shot but failed to get the best of timing as Dhananjaya takes a good catch at long-on to end his stay in the middle. Wanindu Hasaranga opens his account. IND 57/4 in 9.1 overs

A tidy over from Maheesh Theekshana as just three runs came of it and the pressure kept on mounting. The required run rate is marching towards 14 now and Sri Lanka can smell a wicket here. IND 57/4 in 9 overs

Suryakumar Yadav has started playing his shots but the pressure is too much on him which is pulling him down to play more freely. The required run rate is marching towards 13 which is not a good sign for the hosts. 7 runs came off the 8th over. IND 54/4 in 8 overs

End of the powerplay and Sri Lanka completely dominated it by claiming four wickets. Suryakumar Yadav is not taking any risk at the moment as he knows one wicket from here will put everything in Sri Lanka’s hands. IND 39/4 in 6 overs

OUT! Chamika Karunaratne gets the big wicket of Hardik Pandya who edged the ball behind the stumps and Kusal Mendis grabbed a sensational diving catch to send him back to the pavilion. India in all sorts of trouble here but the number 1 ranked ICC T20I batter – Suryakumar Yadav is still in the middle. IND 34/4 in 4.4 overs

The captain and vice-captain are in the middle but not an ideal thing for India early in this chase. A tidy over from Kasun Rajitha as pressure is on Hardik Pandya and Suryakumar Yadav here to revive the mammoth chase here. IND 28/3 in 4 overs

OUT! Another wicket here as debutant Rahul Tripathi is taking a long walk back towards the pavilion after scoring just 5 runs. Excellent ball from Dilshan Madushanka as Tripathi was in control to play the shot on that as Kusal Mendis grabbed an easy catch behind stumps. IND 21/3 in 2.1 overs

Kasun Rajitha strikes again and this time he gets the better of Shubman Gill in the same over. The young Indian opener failed to get the best of timing and played it a bit early as Maheesh Theekshana grabbed an easy catch at mid-on. IND 21/2 in 2 overs