Cuttack: Yuzvendra Chahal picked up 4/23 as India crushed Sri Lanka by a record margin of 93 runs in the first match of T20 International series against Sri Lanka played at the Barabati stadium here tonight to take a 1-0 lead.Chasing 181, Sri Lanka crumbled against pressure from India's bowlers and pressure from the scoreboard, and crashed to 87 all out, their innings lasting just 16 overs.
Yuzvendra Chahal’s 4/23, combined with two wickets from Kuldeep Yadav and Hardik Pandya helped India achieve a huge win.It was a great performance by the duo of Kuldeep and Chahal, who picked up combined figures of 8-0-41-6 and Hardik Pandya finishes it off in style 3/29. Sri Lanka started briskly but soon lost their opener Niroshan Dickwella early in the chase. Following which the Indian spinners wreaked havoc as they yet again ran through the Lankan middle-order to halt their momentum and sway the match in India's favour.
Chahal was adjudged as the man of the match as he ended the match with the figures of 4/23.This was India’s highest margin of victory in the shortest format in terms of runs. 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
Earlier, Sent into bat Rohit Sharma-led India posted a competitive 180 for three in 20 overs. Opener Lokesh Rahul and captain Rohit Sharma gave India a steady start and added 38 runs in first five overs before Angelo Mathews dismissed Rohit for 17. After which Rahul (61) upped his ante and smashed the ball all over the ground to give India a solid base along with Shreyas Iyer (34). (UNI)
