India breeze past Sri Lanka

Despite three early hiccups, India won their second game of the T20I Nidahas Trophy by six wickets as they rushed past Sri Lanka's modest 152 for nine to win by six wickets at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo last night.

The match was shortened to a 19-over a side affair after the match lost 95 minutes to a rain-delayed start.

Manish Pandey remained not out on a 31-ball 42 while Dinesh Karthik was unbeaten on 39 off 25 balls. Their unbroken 68-run fifth-wicket stand helped avenge the five-wicket defeat to the hosts in the tri-series opener on March 6.

After India chose to field, apart from the in-form Kusal Mendis who struck his second fifty in three games, none of the other Lankan batters were able to make an impact.

Mendis top-scored with 55 off 38 balls with three fours and three sixes before handing a straight forward catch to skipper Rohit Sharma off leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.

Kusal Perera, who struck a blistering 74 against Bangladesh on Saturday, was dismissed by off-spinner Washington Sundar for just three.

Sri Lanka managed to score 53 runs in their Powerplay before player-of-the-match, medium pacer Shardul Thakur, took charge and picked four wickets for 27 runs in four overs. Sri Lanka added just 32 runs in the last five overs.

In the chase, skipper Sharma continued his poor run in the tournament and was caught at short mid-wicket, coming down the track to off-spinner Akila Dananjaya on 11, while in-form opener Shikhar Dhawan departed cheaply when he misjudged the flight from the same bowler and was caught at mid-on for eight to leave India struggling on 22 for two.

Suresh Raina and KL Rahul settled things down but the latter became the first Indian batsman to be dismissed hit-wicket in a T20 after scoring 18. Raina was also unable to finish it off for the side and departed after scoring a 15-ball 27-run knock before Pandey and Karthik took India home with nine balls to spare.

India will take on Bangladesh in their last group match tomorrow.