Nissanka 79 goes in vain as India beats Sri Lanka in T20 series opener

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Suryakumar Yadav scored a 26-ball 58 in his first outing as the full-time skipper and India beat Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the Twenty20 series opener on Saturday.

Yadav’s 20th half-century led an impactful performance by the India top order. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored 40 off 21 balls and opening partner Shubman Gill hit 34 off 16. Rishabh Pant rounded it off with 49 off 33 balls as India notched up 213-7.

In reply, Pathum Nissanka smacked 79 off 48, hitting seven fours and four sixes, but he had little support and Sri Lanka was bowled out for 170 in 19.2 overs.

Axar Patel took 2-38 in four overs, while part-time spinner Riyan Parag ran through the lower order to finish with a career-best three wickets for five runs in eight deliveries.

The teams will play again on Sunday and Tuesday followed by three one-day internationals.

Jaiswal and Gill put on 74 hectic runs in the first six overs. India suffered a quick double blow at the end of the powerplay, losing both openers off consecutive balls.

Yadav and Pant then shared 76 off 43 balls, setting up the base for a big score. India’s new T20 skipper hit eight fours and two sixes as he powered to 50 off 22 balls.

He fell lbw to Matheesha Pathirana in the 14th over, which sucked the momentum from India’s innings.

Pathirana struck through the middle order, bowling Hardik Pandya for 9 and dismissing Riyan Parag lbw for 7.

As India lost wickets in a bunch at one end, Pant held up the other, smacking six fours and a six to help India cross 200 in the 19th over.

Pant fell one run short of a half-century, bowled by Pathirana, who finished with 4-40.

Chasing a tall order, Nissanka and Kusal Mendis put on 84 off 52 balls for the first wicket. They put India’s attack to the sword, combining for five sixes as Sri Lanka scored 55-0 in the powerplay.

Mendis made 45 off 27 balls until left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh broke through in the ninth over. Mendis was caught at deep midwicket.

Nissanka carried on, reaching 50 off 34 balls, adding another 56 off 33 for the second wicket with Kusal Perera.

Sri Lanka was handily placed at 140-1 in the 14th over.

Then left-arm spinner Axar Patel brought India back into the game.

Patel struck twice in the 15th over, bowling Nissanka off the first ball and, five balls later, sending back Perera.

With 65 runs needed off the last five overs, panic set in among the Sri Lankans and no other batter reached double figures.

India turned the game with clever bowling changes — none more so than Parag, who ran through the lower order after Ravi Bishnoi removed skipper Charitha Asalanka for a two-ball duck.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket