STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsOn Saturday, February 26, for the second T20I, there was prediction for rain in Dharamsala. It rained for sure, but it was raining runs. India, once again emerged victorious and sealed the series 2-0 with one match remaining.
Sri Lanka were sent into bat by Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper. The decision proved to be costly as Sri Lankan openers put on a 67-run stand. Then, India bounced back with three quick wickets. However, the skipper Dasun Shanaka and the Sri Lanka’s new and young sensation Pathum Nissanka, forged a 58-run partnership for the fifth wicket off just 26 balls. After the dismissal of Nissanka, Shanaka took charge and smashed an unbeaten 47 off just 19 balls. His blazing innings helped Sri Lanka score 80 runs in the last five and propel to a score of 183/5.
In reply, India were jolted early as Rohit departed in the first over. Last match hero Ishan Kishan, struggled to get going before he was dismissed in the sixth over. India at 46/2 in the first six overs were in a spot of bother. However, Shreyas Iyer and Sanju Samson stitched an 84-run partnership for the third wicket in just 47 balls. The icing on the cake was Ravindra Jadeja finishing off the innings with an unbeaten 18-ball 45. India chased the target with 17 balls to spare.
A slow start, even after a wicket-less powerplay
Sri Lanka in the first T20I, lost two wickets in the first six overs and scored only 29 runs. But, in the 2nd T20I, they were off to a steady start by not losing a wicket, but were slow to get off the block.
In the first six overs, Sri Lanka scored only 32 runs without the openers being separated. In T20Is, this is the lowest score in this phase for Sri Lanka when they haven’t lost a wicket in the first six overs. Previously, against Pakistan in 2012, they had scored 34, the lowest then.
Rohit becomes the first Indian fielder to 50 catches
Let be any format of the game, Rohit is one of the safest Indian fielders. In the second T20I, by taking the catch of Dinesh Chandimal, Rohit became the first Indian fielder (Non-wicket-keeper) to half-century of catches.
In T20Is, he became the fourth player to achieve this feat after David Miller (69), Martin Guptill (64) and Shoaib Mallik (50).
Leaking runs in the last five
Behind the commendable series win against West Indies, Indian bowlers' contribution during the last five overs played an important role. In the first T20I against Sri Lanka, there wasn’t much left in the last five overs, which is why it went unnoticed.
However, in the second T20I, despite the win, all their hard work in the first 15 overs was compromised by poor bowling in the last five. In this phase Indian bowlers were carted for 80 runs, involving five sixes and seven fours. Only once had they conceded more runs in the last five overs of a T20I innings and that came in 2014 against England in Birmingham.
Shanaka’s blistering innings
The skipper of Sri Lanka Shanaka, has the reputation of being a big hitter and everyone witnessed it today. Coming into bat at 102/4 in the 15th over (14.4), Sri Lanka were banking on the skipper to get them to a total of 160.
But, Shanaka’s balzing innings of an unbeaten 47 from 19 balls propelled Sri Lanka to a massive total of 183, more than what they expected. His innings consisted of five sixes and two fours and scored those runs at a strike rate of 247.4. Among Sri Lankan batsmen who have scored 40+ in an innings, his strike rate was the second best after Jehan Mubarak’s (353.8) cameo of an unbeaten 46 against Kenya in 2007 T20 World Cup.
Rohit, the biggest of all bunnies
Rohit has had his troubles against Dushmantha Chameera in T20I. Before the second T20I, Rohit was dismissed by Chameera four times in seven T20I innings, the most for him against a bowler.
In the second T20I, Chameera added one more to his count and made it five in eight innings. Rohit now has a balls/dismissal ratio of 5.2 against Chameera in T20Is. By bagging him for the fifth time, Chameera became the first ever bowler to dismiss a particular batsman in T20Is for five or more innings.
Rohit’s unmatchable home record
Since the time Rohit became the full-time captain, India has been unbreachable under him in the limited overs format. Overall itself, India under Rohit in the shortest format has been a force to beat. In 27 matches under Rohit as captain, India have won 23 with a win/loss ratio of 5.750, the best for a captain who has led 20+ matches.
With a win in the second T20I, Rohit achieved yet another milestone. In 17 matches at home, India under Rohit has lost only one match and has a win/loss ratio of 16.000. The 16 wins are the most by a captain in home T20Is. He went past Eoin Morgan and Kane Williamson’s tally of 15 in the second T20I.
Winning with ease
A target of 180+ isn't that easy to chase, especially after losing a wicket of Rohit's caliber in the first over. But, this Indian team has no boundaries. The positives so far in the last two series has been the middle order getting into the groove and the second T20I was another example of it.
Thanks to an unbeaten 74 of 44 balls by Shreyas and a blazing innings of an unbeaten 45 of 18 balls by Ravindra Jadeja, India chased 184 with 17 balls to spare. In a successful chase of 180+, only twice has a team won a match with more balls to spare in T20Is. Netherlands in 2014 against Ireland had won with 37 balls in a chase of 190 and Sri Lanka in 2018 against Bangladesh in 2018 had won with 20 balls to spare in a chase of 194.
