By: Aditya Ahuja 

Pathum Nissanka’s heroics went in vain due to a lack of support from his fellow batters, as India took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka on Saturday.

After being put to bat first, fifties from skipper Suryakumar Yadav combined with cameos from Rishabh Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal propelled India to 213/7 in their quota of 20 overs. Matheesha Pathirana was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with four scalps.

In reply, Sri Lanka were comfortably positioned at 140-1 after 14 overs, thanks to Kusal Mendis, who set the tone with a rapid 45 off 27 balls. Pathum Nissanka played brilliantly for his 79, smashing four sixes and seven fours. However, after he misjudged an arm ball from Axar Patel and chopped it onto his stumps, the innings unraveled.

The Lankans collapsed to 160-5 fron 140-1 in a matter of just 13 balls. Parag, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, and Mohammed Siraj ensured that no one outside the top four reached double figures.

Parag’s part-time leg-spin yielded impressive figures of 1.2-0-5-3.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav was adjudged ‘Player of the Match’ for his thunderous 26-ball 58

The second T20I is scheduled on Sunday at 7:00 PM at the same venue- Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

BRIEF SCORE: Sri Lanka 170 all out in 19.2 overs (Pathum Nissanka 79, Kusal Mendis 45, Riyan Parag 3/5) vs India 213/7 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 58, Rishabh Pant 49, Matheesha Pathirana 4/40).