Kohli and Pathan star in India T20 win
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India’s Gautam Gambhir is clean bowled by Sri Lanka’s Shamira
Eranga. |
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India’s Virat Kohli drives a ball from Lasith Malinga during his
innings of 68. Pictures by Kamal Jayamanne |
Virat Kohli cracked a half-century and Irfan Pathan bagged three key
wickets to help India post an easy 39-run win over Sri Lanka in the
one-off Twenty20 international in Pallekele on Tuesday.
In-form Kohli hit a 48-ball 68 for his maiden half-century in T20
internationals while paceman Pathan finished with 3-27 as India bowled
Sri Lanka out for 116 after scoring 155-3.
Pathan jolted Sri Lanka’s top order when he dismissed skipper Mahela
Jayawardene (26), Tillakaratne Dilshan (0) and Upul Tharanga (5) in his
opening three overs to reduce the hosts to 35-3.
Seamer Ashok Dinda finished with 4-19, including three wickets in an
over, as Sri Lanka lost their last six wickets for 20 runs. Angelo
Mathews top-scored for Sri Lanka with 31.
Kohli earlier smashed one six and 11 fours being caught by Lahiru
Thirimanne at deep mid-wicket off debutant paceman Shaminda Eranga, who
took 2-30 off four overs.
Kohli, who scored two centuries in the recent five-match one-day
series in Sri Lanka, put on 74 for the second wicket with opener Ajinkya
Rahane (21) and 48 for the next with Suresh Raina who made a 25-ball 34
not out.
Sri Lanka struck early after electing to field as Eranga bowled
opener Gautam Gambhir (six) with his fourth delivery, but Kohli and
Rahane propped up the innings.
Kohli went for his shots from the beginning as he hit pacemen Thisara
Perera and Eranga each for three fours in an over.
He reached his half-century with a four off left-arm spinner Rangana
Herath.
India:
G. Gambhir b Eranga . 6
A. Rahane c and b Mendis 21
V. Kohli c Thirimanne b Eranga 68
S. Raina not out 34
MS Dhoni not out 16
Extras (lb7, w3) 10
Total (for three wickets;20 overs) 155
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Gambhir), 2-81 (Rahane), 3-129 (Kohli).
Bowling:
Mathews 3-0-23-0,
Eranga 4-0-30-2 (w2),
Malinga 4-0-31-0 (w1),
Perera 4-0-34-0,
Herath 3-0-17-0,
Mendis 2-0-13-1.
Sri Lanka:
M. Jayawardene lbw b Pathan 26
T. Dilshan b Pathan 0
U. Tharanga c Raina b Pathan 5
L. Thirimanne b Ashwin 20
A. Mathews c Dhoni b Dinda 31
J. Mendis c Rahane b Yadav 11
D. Chandimal c Kohli b Dinda 7
T. Perera run out 1
S. Eranga c Ashwin b dinda 6
L. Malinga c Dhoni b dinda 0
R. Herath not out 0
Extras 9
Total : (all out in18 overs) 116
Fall of wickets: 1-7 (Dilsha)2-14(Tharanga), 3-35 (Jayawardene),4-68 (Thirimanne),
5-96 (Mathews), 6-100 (Mendis), 7-102 (Perera), 8-116 (Chandimal),
9-116 (Eranga),10-116 (Malinga).
Bowling:
Pathan 4-0-27-3 (w3),
Yadav 3-0-24-1 (w2),
Dinda 3-1-19-4,
Kohli 3-0-13-0,
Sharma 1-0-9-0 (w1),
Ashwin 4-0-22-1 (w1). |