Dhananjaya helps SL level series against India

Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva en route his unbeaten 40 against India yesterday. Pic/AFP

A depleted Indian team, playing with only five batsmen, could not defend a modest target of 133 despite a valiant effort from its players as Sri Lanka kept the three-match series alive with a four-wicket victory in the second T20 International here on Wednesday.

With nine players unavailable after Krunal Pandya tested positive, India had no option but to play with six specialist bowlers, including one pacer Navdeep Saini, who wasn't even given a single over.

Dhananjaya de Silva (40 not out) anchored a tricky Lankan chase after India scored 132 for five. The hosts won with two balls to spare.

Vice-captain Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-21 in 4 overs) was economical till Chamika Karunartne launched his full-toss for a six. The 12 runs from that over brought the equation down to 8 runs off final overs which was very difficult for debutant Chetan Sakariya to defend.

If one bowler despite figures of 2-30 will be annoyed is Kuldeep, who was brilliant but was let down by his fielders, who dropped a couple of catches. Some poor effort in the outfield also spoilt his figures. Yadav outfoxed opposition skipper Dasun Shanaka by shortening the length of his stock delivery, the one that turns into the right-hander drawing him out and Sanju Samson effected a smart leg-side stumping.

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Brief scores
India 132-5 in 20 overs (S Dhawan 40, D Padikkal 29; A Dananjaya 2-29, D Shanaka 1-14) lost to Sri Lanka 133-6 in 19.4 overs (M Bhanuka 36, D de Silva 40'; Kuldeep Yadav 2-30)by 4 wickets

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