India v Sri Lanka, 1st T20I: 5 Talking Points
Milinda Siriwardana (L) celebrates with Seekkuge Prasanna (R) after scoring the winning runs for Sri Lanka (Image courtesy: BCCI)Following an excellent performance in the three-match T20I series against Australia, India were widely touted to dominate the home T20I series against Sri Lanka. With only the absence of the mercurial Virat Kohli, India fielded a pretty strong side. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, were missing many of their key players and had a very inexperienced lineup led by Dinesh Chandimal.The pitch at the MCA Stadium in Pune was made green to assist seam bowling and the visitors understandably bowled first. They made their decision count as they dominated the Indian batsmen and troubled the home side to give India their third lowest T20I total.Although Sri Lankan batsmen lost a few batsmen, the two most experienced batsmen, Chandimal and Chamara Kapugedera made sure that the visitors did not miss out on the opportunity to take a 1-0 lead in the T20I series.
#1 Impressive Sri Lankan bowling
With Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad and Nuwan Kulasekara all rested, Sri Lanka seemed a much weaker side than India, who had most of their frontline bowlers. However, the Sri Lankan bowlers, who filled in for the experienced ones, took on the challenge set before them and put in match-winning performances.
Kasun Rajitha, the 22-year-old right-arm fast bowler was the pick of the bowlers as he picked up three wickets in his four overs to earn the man-of-the-match award. Dasun Shanaka, known more for his batting abilities, also picked up three wickets while Dushmantha Chameera picked up two wickets.
Choosing to bowl first after winning the toss, the young Sri Lankan bowlers did not disappoint their captain as they made full use of the favourable conditions and found extra bounce and seam.