Gambhir, Surya off to flying start as India grab 43-run win
Pallekele, July 27
New head coach Gautam Gambhir and T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav enjoyed a winning start as India secured a 43-run victory over hosts Sri Lanka to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20 series. With Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja quitting T20Is, Yashasvi Jaiswal and new T20 vice-captain Shubman Gill opened the innings for the visitors.
India got off to a lightning start in the powerplay with a 74-run opening stand between Jaiswal (40) and Gill (34). Suryakumar (58), who was appointed India’s T20 captain last week ahead of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, led from the front, notching his 20th T20 fifty in just 22 deliveries. Rishabh Pant fell just one run shy of a half-century.
India then bowled Sri Lanka out for 170 despite the hosts getting off to a flier with an 84-run opening stand.
Brief scores: India: 213/7 (Suryakumar 58, Pant 49; Pathirana 4/40); Sri Lanka: 170 all out in 19.2 overs (Nissanka 79, Mendis 45; Parag 3/5, Arshdeep 2/24)
Women eye 8th Asia Cup title
Dambulla: Defending champions India will look to translate their overwhelming dominance in the Women’s Asia Cup to a record-extending eighth title while facing a feisty Sri Lanka in the final here tomorrow. — Agencies
