1st T20I: India crush Sri Lanka by 62 runs

India dished out an outstanding all-round performance to hammer Sri Lanka by 62 runs in the first of the 3 T20Is and extend their winning run in T20Is at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday. This is Rohit Sharma-led India's 10th consecutive win in the T20Is.

Chasing a mammoth 200 for victory, Sri Lanka were restricted to 137 for 6 in 20 overs thanks to a superb effort with the ball by fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar before the spinners took charge of the proceedings.

Bhuvneshwar ran through Sri Lanka's top-order with the India pacer getting rid of opener Pathum Nissanka on the first delivery of the innings and then Kamil Mishara in the 3rd over, while Venkatesh Iyer picked up Janith Liyanage's wicket to deliver a body blow to the opposition.

The spin duo of Ravindra Jadeja and Yuzvendra Chahal then dismissed Dinesh Chandimal (10) and Dasun Shanaka (3) in quick



succession to leave Sri Lanka reeling at 60 for 5 in the 11th over.

Charith Asalanka waged a lone battle and raced to his third T20I fifty but apart from him and Dushmantha Chameera's refreshing hits, Sri Lanka were led down by an overall, poor batting display.

Earlier, opener Ishan Kishan blazed his way to a blistering 56-ball 89 before Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten 57 to help India post a challenging 199 for 2 against Sri Lanka. The 23-year-old from Jharkhand stitched a 111-run innings for the opening wicket with his skipper Rohit Sharma to put India on course for a formidable total after Sri Lanka opted to bowl first.

Skipper Rohit also got 44 off 32 balls as Sri Lankan bowlers, without the world's premier leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, were taken to the cleaners by Indian batters. Iyer then grabbed the opportunity with both hands, smashing five fours and two sixes in 28 balls to take India to a huge total.