Sri Lanka collapse again to hand India T-20 series

Sri Lanka seemed to have learned little from their humbling experience in the first T-20 International against India where their batting collapsed in a heap as the middle order again failed to cash in after an electric start from the top three in the second game at Pallekele on Sunday.

Rain gave India a revised target of 78 in eight overs and they reached there with nine deliveries to spare with eight wickets in hand. They clinched the series with a game to spare.

On a used wicket, after being put into bat, Sri Lanka were 130 for three and with five overs remaining were looking for setting at least a target of 180, but so dramatic was their collapse that they managed to post only 161. The hosts lost seven wickets for 31 runs in 30 deliveries. The previous game they had lost nine wickets for 30 runs,.

The collapse started when Kamindu Mendis took on Hardik Pandya but failed to clear Rinku Singh at mid-wicket. In the same over, Kusal Perera attempted the same shot and was caught by Rinku.

Kusal came back to form top scoring 53 in 34 balls with six fours and two sixes.

Then in the next over, leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi picked up two wickets in two balls as Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga fell without scoring. Effectively, Sri Lanka lost four wickets for ten runs in the space of ten deliveries.

Shanaka has now picked up back-to-back ducks. Into the bargain he had a poor World Cup as well and his position at number six now has become untenable. Sri Lanka need to move on from Shanaka having depended on him too much.

Monday’s last T-20 International will be a dead rubber but Sri Lanka will be playing for pride. A couple of changes are expected for the game from Sri Lanka.