India beat Sri Lanka by 69 runs in second T20 International
Level Series 1-1; decider to be played n Vizag on 14th Feb
Ranchi: India defeated Sri Lanka by 69 runs in the second T20 International to level the three-match series here today. Riding on a whirlwind start from the openers Shikar Dhawan, who went on to score his first T20I half century and Rohit Sharma. Cameos from Hardik Pandaya and Suresh Raina ensured that the hosts reach 196 by the end of their alloted 20 overs.
The visitors pulled things back in the penultimate over with pacer Thisara Perera (3/33) picking up a hat-trick, the fourth ever in T20 Internationals and first by a Sri Lankan.
Sri Lanka put the hosts in to bat for the second game in a row and India openers were on fire from the word go. Unlike the greenish deck for the first T20, the pitch aided the strokeplay they are known for.
The Sri Lankan team never looked like chasing the mountain of 197 runs after loosing 3 wickets within the powerplay overs. The Indian bolwers kept chipping away with wickets at regular intervals to ensure that the run rate was always climbing for the visitors.
With a 69 run victory over Sri Lanka, India levelled the 3 match series 1 all with the decider to be played in Vishakhapatnam on 14th February.
