IND vs SL 2023: The game was set by the openers – Dasun Shanaka after series-levelling win

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka showered praise on his openers after they won the second T20I by 16 runs at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Thursday. The home team posted an above-par score of 206 runs on the board after Hardik Pandya decided to put the opposition in to bat after winning the toss.

The foundation of a big score was laid down by the Sri Lankan openers, especially Kusal Mendis who scored 52 runs off just 31 balls with Pathum Nissanka playing a second fiddle. The opening pair added 80 runs in the first eight overs and set the tone for the tourists.

Subsequently, Charith Asalanka scored a fine cameo of 37 runs off just 19 balls. After Sri Lanka’s brisk start, India was able to pull back things as the visitors found themselves at 138-6 after 16 overs.

However, Dasun Shanaka smashed the fastest T20I fifty for Sri Lanka, reaching the personal milestone off just 20 balls. Shanaka finished with an unbeaten 22-ball 56 to help his team get past the 200-run mark. With the help of Shanaka’s glittering knock, Sri Lanka managed 68 runs off the last four overs to finish their batting innings on a high.

On the other hand, Kasun Rajitha struck twice in his maiden over as he sent back Indian openers – Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill – as the hosts could not get the start that Sri Lankan openers provided to their team.

The home team kept losing wickets at regular intervals as they found themselves in tatters at 57-5. Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav showed the stomach for a fight as both of them scored fifties but India fell short in the end.

Dasun Shanaka was also awarded the Player of the Match for his blistering knock and for conceding only four runs in the final over he bowled.

Shanaka said in the post-match press conference, “I think so (a captain’s performance?). We could’ve done well in the middle part. The game was set by the openers. Need to play well in the middle order to allow finishers to finish well. It’s not the dew factor, it’s the skill of Indian batters. They took the game away from us but still, we managed to hold our nerve. Really good to defend the total, especially against India in these conditions.”

The deciding T20I between these two teams will be played at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot on Saturday.