Sri Lanka stunned India with yet another aggressive run-chase in the Asia Cup and recorded a six-wicket win in the Super 4 on Tuesday.
Half-centuries by the opening pair of Kusal Mendis (57) and Pathum Nissanka (52) led Sri Lanka to 174-4 for its third straight successful run-chase of 170-plus in the tournament.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma turned around his below-par batting form with 72 off 41 balls to anchor his team to 173-8 after Virat Kohli went for zero and the middle order failed to fire in the death overs for the second successive game.
“The confidence in the dressing room is great,” Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said. “Pathum and Kusal set the tone brilliantly, and (Bhanuka) Rajapaksa and I set up the chase.”
The right-armed Dilshan Madhushanka (3-24) clean bowled Kohli in his second over and then reined in Indian power-hitters in the return spell with the wickets of Rishabh Pant and Deepak Hooda.
Mendis and Nissanka raised Sri Lanka’s best-opening partnership in a T20 against India when they racked up 97 runs in 11 overs in a superb display of aggressive batting upfront.
India pacers couldn’t find any seam or swing under lights as Mendis and Nissanka smashed 57 runs in the first six overs of the batting powerplay.
Meanwhile, the journo, by the name of Daniel Alexander, has repeatedly targeted the Indian players. After Sri Lanka’s thrilling last-over win over India on Tuesday, Alexander posted a series of tweets insulting the Men in Blue.
“Underrated Sri Lanka knock overrated India out of the Asia Cup 2022.”
“Air India flight from Dubai to Mumbai. SOLD OUT!.”
“Sri Lanka and Pakistan send India home with two incredible run chases.”
“The entire world celebrating Sri Lanka’s win against India, except India and the people in ICC office.”