Virat Kohli's India end memorable Sri Lanka tour with victory in yesterday's one-off T20I after scooping Test and ODI series; India thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in one-off T20I
India captain Virat Kohli in full cry en route his 82 against Sri Lanka during the T20I match at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday. India won by seven wickets. Pic/AFP
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Virat Kohli led from the front with some explosive batting as India thrashed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the one-off Twenty20 International at the R Premadasa Stadium here yesterday.
Kohli plundered 82 runs off just 54 deliveries, smashing seven boundaries and a six as the visitors chased down the 171-run target with four balls and seven wickets to spare.
Pandey shines too
Manish Pandey gave Kohli excellent support from the other end. The right-hander from Karnataka brought up his maiden half-century in T20Is and remained unbeaten on 51 with four boundaries and a six studding his 36-ball innings.
The duo put together 119 runs between them off 77 deliveries after the early departure of Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Lokesh Rahul.
By the time Kohli fell to young pacer Isuru Udana — caught by Dasun Shanaka while trying to clear the mid-wicket fence — the Indians were on the threshold of victory, with 10 runs needed off nine balls.
For Sri Lanka, veteran fast bowler Lasith Malinga, Seekkuge Prasanna and Isuru Udana took a wicket each.
Rohit and Rahul had put the visitors off to a promising start. But Rohit virtually threw away his wicket with a poorly attempted slog off Malinga, which saw Thisara Perera running in from mid-on to latch onto the skier. Rahul departed three overs later thanks to a catch by Dasun Shanaka off Seekkuge Prasanna's bowling.
Total domination
But that was the last bit of celebration that the Lankans will manage for a long time as Kohli and Pandey came together to ensure a comfortable victory for India.
Pandey hit the winning runs in style, hitting Thisara Perera for a boundary to bring up his half-century.
Earlier, Sri Lanka rode on Dilshan Munaweera's 29-ball brisk 53 to post 170-7.
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