India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20, Cuttack

highlights: IND crush SL by 93 runs,

take 1-0 lead
Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/23 and two wickets each from Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya gave
India a thumping 93-run win over Sri Lanka in Cuttack. Catch highlights of India vs Sri Lanka
1st T20 at Cuttack here.
CRICKET Updated: Dec 20, 2017 22:42 IST

Siddharth Vishwanathan
Hindustan Times, New Delhi

Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 4/23 as India crushed Sri Lanka by a record margin of 93 runs to go 1-0 up in
Cuttack. Get highlights of India vs Sri Lanka T20 here.(BCCI)

India continued their domination over Sri Lanka as they registered a massive
93-run win in the first Twenty20 International in Cuttack to take a 1-0 lead in
the series. This was India’s highest margin of victory in the shortest format in
terms of runs. KL Rahul’s second fifty and aggressive cameos from
MS Dhoni and Manish Pandey helped India to 180/3. Yuzvendra Chahal’s
4/23, combined with two wickets from Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya
helped India achieve a huge win. Catch highlights of India vs Sri Lanka, 1st
T20 here. (SCORECARD) (FIXTURES | RESULTS)

22:37 hrs IST: That is all from us here. Join us for the second match in
Indore on December 22.

22:36 hrs IST: Yuzvendra Chahal (Man of the Match): I got into good
rhythm with Tharanga’s wicket. I was mixing googlies and leg spinners. It
was slow and bouncing, so I was just varying the pace.
22:34 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma: Toss wasn’t going to make much of a
difference. Dew was there for forty overs. Conditions remained the same. I
think KL Rahul at the top was a great move. He wasn’t part of the ODI squad
but he came and showed that he belongs. He was hitting the ball well. Great
finish to the batting innings by MS and Manish, who hasn’t got much batting
time. We can’t talk much about MSD. He didn’t get much batting in the
ODIs but class is permanent.

22:30 hrs IST: Thisara Perera: We can chase 180 if we get a good start.
Really disappointed with our batting line-up. We worked really hard in the
practice sessions, so we have to come with (the goods against India’s
spinners)

22:21 hrs IST: India’s previous highest victory margin was 90 runs against
England in Colombo during the World T20 and this margin confirms India’s
current state of domination. It was a great performance by the duo of Kuldeep
and Chahal, who picked up combined figures of 8-0-41-6.

22:18 hrs IST: Hardik Pandya finishes it off in style and India win by 93
runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. This is India’s biggest T20I win in terms
of runs.

22:14 hrs IST: WICKET! Pandya gets his second wicket. Length ball on the
pads, Chameera hits it to deep square leg but straight to the
fielder. Chameera c Rahul b Pandya 12 (14).
22:10 hrs IST: FOURS! First boundary for Sri Lanka in 10 overs. Chameera
giving something to cheer for the visitors with a boundary to long off and
deep point.

22:06 hrs IST: WICKET! So non-chalant. Dananjaya makes room and

powers it back to Pandya who takes a good catch on his followthrough. Akila
Dananjaya c and b Hardik Pandya 7 (7).

21:59 hrs IST: WICKET! The end is near for Sri Lanka. Kuldeep gets this
delivery to straighten and Kusal Perera miscues the slog to be caught by
Dhoni. Kusal Perera c Dhoni b Kuldeep 19 (28).

21:57 hrs IST: Yuzvendra Chahal has finished his spell. 4-0-23-4. Simply
outstanding. India are closing in on a big win.

21:52 hrs IST: WICKET! Chahal is rocking in Cuttack. A wide legbreak

and Thisara Perera looks to slog, misses it and it is another stumping for
Dhoni. Thisara Perera st Dhoni b Chahal 3 (4).

21:47 hrs IST: WICKET! Sri Lanka are in free-fall. Kuldeep flights a
delivery on leg stump, Shanaka miscues the lofted shot to long on and Hardik
Pandya runs in to take the catch. Dasun Shanaka c Pandya b Kuldeep 1 (6).

21:41 hrs IST: WICKET! Once you are out of the crease and beaten, you
can forget about your survival. Gunaratne is lured out of the crease by a
dipping legbreak and Dhoni does the rest. Asela Gunaratne st Dhoni b
Chahal 4 (4).
21:40 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have not scored a boundary for close to six overs.
Only a run-rate of six is not enough.

21:36 hrs IST: Sri Lanka’s required rate has gone past 11. It looks very
difficult for them now.

21:32 hrs IST: WICKET! Tame dismissal. Mathews chips a legbreak

drifting in on leg stump straight back to the bowler. Second consecutive game
that the legspinner has gotten the former Sri Lankan skipper’s
number. Angelo Mathews c and b Chahal 1 (7).

21:29 hrs IST: Kuldeep Yadav concedes just five runs in his first over. Sri
Lanka are slipping behind big time. After seven overs, Sri Lanka are 45/2

21:25 hrs IST: Jasprit Bumrah concedes just one run in the over. The
squeeze is on for Sri Lanka.

21:20 hrs IST: WICKET! That is a terrible way to go. Flatter delivery down
the leg side, Tharanga goes for the pull but the ball flicks the pad and then the
glove to be caught. Upul Tharanga c Dhoni b Chahal 23 (16).

21:17 hrs IST: FOUR, SIX! Tharanga unfurls the sweep and hits it over
short fine leg for a boundary. He knew that the field was in. Next ball, he
makes room and launches it over long on.

21:14 hrs IST: Superb bowling from Unadkat. 2-0-7-1 are his figures so far.
Sri Lanka struggling.

21:12 hrs IST: DROPPED! The off-cutter zips through from Unadkat and
Tharanga gets a feather on it, but Dhoni is unable to latch on to it.
21:08 hrs IST: In the air but safe! Tharanga miscues the pull but it lands
safely at deep mid wicket.

21:07 hrs IST: SIX! Superb batting from Tharanga, the man in form. Length
ball on the pads, the left-hander hoicks it away to deep mid wicket for a big
six.

21:01 hrs IST: Superb comeback from Unadkat after getting hit for a
boundary. After two overs, Sri Lanka are 16/1.

20:59 hrs IST: WICKET! Great comeback by Jaydev Unadkat as he bowls

a full and wide slower ball outside off, Dickwella tamely chips it to
cover. Niroshan Dickwella c Rahul b Unadkat 13 (8).

20:57 hrs IST: FOUR! Bad start for Unadkat as he concedes a boundary
first ball. Dickwella whips a ball over deep mid wicket.

20:54 hrs IST: Steady start by Pandya as he concedes just six runs in the first
over. Hold on, Manish Pandey conceded an overthrow and five runs is the
result. Spoiled what was a good over.

20:48 hrs IST: Welcome back for the run-chase. Hardik Pandya to open the
bowling. Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga are at the crease. Good
choice of openers one feels. Can they capitalise?

20:39 hrs IST: SIX! MS Dhoni! Thalaivaa. Ends in his typical trademark
style as he hoicks a six over deep mid wicket. India end on 180/3 after 20
overs.
20:32 hrs IST: SIX, FOUR! Oh dear! Dew is playing a part now. Pradeep
bowls a high full toss outside off and Pandey scythes it over third man. In the
free-hit, Pandey clears the front leg and thrashes the drive to deep cover.

20:31 hrs IST: FOUR! Low full toss and Dhoni creams it over mid wicket
for a much-needed boundary.

20:30 hrs IST: Two wides bowled by Pradeep. This over is taking an
awfully long time to get completed.

20:24 hrs IST: FOUR! Poor ball from Thisara. Short and slow ball on leg
stump, Dhoni helps it to the fine leg fence.

20:22 hrs IST: Pandey is just going for the slog at the moment and he
survives a couple of airy chances. India well on course to get over 150 but
they will be eyeing 180.

20:19 hrs IST: SIX, FOUR! Manish Pandey gets into the groove. He
launches Chameera over deep mid wicket for a 91-meter six and then
hammers an inside out drive over extra cover.

20:17 hrs IST: FOUR! Dhoni breaks the shackles by shellacking a boundary
to deep mid wicket but Sri Lanka have pulled things back well here.

20:14 hrs IST: Only five runs conceded by Nuwan Pradeep in the 16th over.
India are 119/3. Can they get past 150?

20:10 hrs IST: WICKET! Full and slow ball on middle and off stump,
Rahul goes for the slog but is too early into the stroke and is bowled. Rahul b
Perera 61 (48).
20:05 hrs IST: Six overs remain. Can India get past 180? That will be a great
score on this wicket.

20:03 hrs IST: FOUR! BAM! Vintage MS Dhoni. Flighted ball from
Dananjaya and Dhoni mauls it down the ground to long on.

19:59 hrs IST: The crowd erupt in Cuttack as MS Dhoni comes out to the
middle. The fan following this man has is legendary.

19:58 hrs IST: WICKET! Short ball and rising up from the deck outside
off, holds its line as Iyer looks to cut it late, gets an outside edge to the
keeper. Shreyas Iyer c Dickwella b Pradeep 24 (20).

19:54 hrs IST: FOUR! Iyer is known as a touch player and he continues it in
Cuttack. Flatter delivery, Iyer plays it late and guides it down to third man.

19:51 hrs IST: FOUR! Rahul brings up the fifty-run stand with Iyer by
slicing a short ball from Vishwa Fernando over backward point.

19:48 hrs IST: FIFTY for KL Rahul. Great comeback in the Indian side.
Off just 34 balls. Can he get a big one in Cuttack?

19:44 hrs IST: There is more good news in store for Virat Kohli. Click here
to find out what it is. A hint: He is now bigger than Shah Rukh Khan.

19:42 hrs IST: SIX! Short ball on leg stump, Rahul swivels and clobbers the
pull shot to the long leg fence. India are 75/1 after nine overs and looking
good for a big score.
19:40 hrs IST: Oh dear, Mathews is in pain. He is down on his haunches and
is getting some treatment from the physio. He is alright.

19:36 hrs IST: FOURS! Bad start for Thisara Perera as Rahul latches on to a
short ball and powers it to deep mid wicket. Next ball, he hammers a full ball
inside out over deep extra cover.

19:31 hrs IST: GIVEN OUT LBW! But Rahul reviews. Mathews gets the
ball to cut back in off the deck and Rahul plays inside the line, the umpire
raises the finger and the batsman reviews, replays show that it was missing
leg stump. Rahul survives.

19:27 hrs IST: FOURS! Shreyas Iyer begins in grand style. He carves
Chameera to deep point and follows it up with a glance past short fine leg.
India maintaining good start.

19:24 hrs IST: WICKET! Mathews gets Rohit again. Short of a length ball
outside off, the Indian skipper looks to muscle the pull over mid-on, but toe-
ends it and the fielder runs forward to take a diving catch. Rohit Sharma c
Chameera b Mathews 17 (13).

19:21 hrs IST: FOUR! Poor ball from Mathews. Good length ball on the
pads, Rahul clips it to the deep backward square leg fence.

19:19 hrs IST: Rohit Sharma goes past 1500 runs in Twenty20
Internationals. He is the second Indian to achieve this feat after Virat Kohli.
19:15 hrs IST: FOURS! Full toss from Danajaya and Rahul sweeps it to
deep backward square leg for a boundary. Couple of balls later, Rohit Sharma
punches a drive off the back foot to deep extra cover.

19:13 hrs IST: FOUR! KL Rahul slices a full ball over mid off and he does
not time it well, but the ball is out of the reach of the fielder and he gets a
boundary.

19:09 hrs IST: Superb start for Akila Dananjaya as he concedes just three
runs. India are 13/0 after two overs.

19:05 hrs IST: Great start for India as they get going with 10 runs in the first
over. Fernando is the 74th Sri Lankan player to play a Twenty20
International for his country.

19:02 hrs IST: FOUR! Poor start for Vishwa Fernando on debut. A full toss
is sliced to third man for a couple but the next ball is caressed through extra
cover.

19:00 hrs IST: Right, we are all set to go. Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are
opening the batting. Will Rahul pounce on the opportunity and register a big
score?

18:56 hrs IST: With India in such red-hot form in 2017, can they end the
year on the ultimate high and not lose a single bilateral series across all
formats?

18:40 hrs IST: Here are the playing XIs for both sides
Sri Lanka: Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella(w), Kusal Perera, Angelo
Mathews, Asela Gunaratne, Thisara Perera(c), Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha
Chameera, Akila Dananjaya, Vishwa Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep

India: Rohit Sharma(c), Lokesh Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, MS

Dhoni(w), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Jaydev Unadkat, Kuldeep Yadav,
Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal

18:35 hrs IST: Unadkat has been in great form in domestic Twenty20s. He
was the key for Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is
the one who has been rested.

18:33 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have made four changes to the side. India have
brought back KL Rahul and Jaydev Unadkat.

18:32 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have won the toss and have chosen to bowl.
Rohit Sharma is a bit concerned about the dew factor.

18:23 hrs IST: In the last Twenty20 International at the Barabati stadium,
crowd trouble marred the closing stages of the match. One hopes that the
crowd behaves this time and that we have a good match.

18:11 hrs IST: Sri Lanka have won just eight out of 28 T20Is since the start
of 2016. However, that includes wins in South Africa and Australia.

17:59 hrs IST: In the last five Twenty20 encounters, India have won four
and lost one. Can Sri Lanka turn their wretched form around?

17:50 hrs IST: In the recently concluded ODI series, Sri Lanka put up a
magnificent bowling display in Dharamsala where they bundled out India for
112. In a Twenty20 contest in Pune in 2016, Sri Lanka bowled them out for
101. Can the visitors put on a similar performance?

17:33 hrs IST: Welcome to the first Twenty20 International between India

and Sri Lanka from Cuttack. This is the third meeting between both sides in a
Twenty20 bilateral series, with India winning the last two 2-1 and 1-0
respectively.

Sri Lanka have been good starters in this series in India. They did well in the
first Test at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens but finally lost the series 1-0 after an
innings defeat in the second Test at Nagpur. Similarly, the Lankans won the
1st ODI in Dharamsala by seven wickets and then went down in the next two
at Mohali and Visakhapatnam.

However, Sri Lanka will back themselves against India in Cuttack. In head-
to-head, they trail India 4-7 in the T20 format and have the arsenal to match
Rohit Sharma’s team. In skipper Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews, they
have two proven T20 match-winners.