PUNE // Inexperienced Sri Lanka fast bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka took three wickets apiece to bundle out India for 101 and set up a five-wicket victory in the first Twenty20 international yesterday.
It was a setback for the fancied hosts who conceded they were caught unawares by the nature of the pitch which MS Dhoni and the think tank thought would be a batting-friendly surface.
“It was more like an English wicket,” Dhoni told at the post-match presentation.
“The wicket was completely different to what we have been playing in the last one month. There was spongy bounce, and variable pace.”
Yet, the captain also blamed his batsmen for recklessness. “We played quite a few big shots. Maybe not the kind of shots we should be playing on a spongy wicket.
“This was a 135-140 kind of wicket because there was some help for the fast bowlers.
“It was more English conditions than Indian conditions. Our shot selection should have been better. Looking at the positives, everybody got a chance today, and we kept pressing hard.” Dhoni made a paltry two.
Rajitha, making his international debut, dismissed Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane in the first over to give Sri Lanka a perfect start after they chose to bowl first, a decision that had Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal elated.
“I’m over the moon,” he said.
“I thought the toss was important. I saw some fresh grass on the pitch. Credit goes to bowlers, they did a really good job. It’s a young team.
“Every time we tell them to back themselves and do what they are capable of.
“We missed a lot of senior players, the youngsters have put their hands up and grabbed the opportunity,” Chandimal said.
Earlier, Rajitha nearly got his third wicket in his next over, only to see Danushka Gunathilaka spill a sitter at third man to give Suresh Raina a lifeline. His disappointment was short-lived as Shikhar Dhawan, top-ranked in the shortest format’s batting rankings, was caught by Gunathilaka for just nine.
Raina made little use of his reprieve and he was cleaned up by Shanaka in the ninth over for 20 as the wickets tumbled with alarming regularity.
India should have been full of confidence after their recent 3-0 T20 series win in Australia, which secured their place at the top of the ICC rankings, but none of their batsmen showed any kind of form.
Shanaka, playing only his second match for Sri Lanka, sent back Raina and Dhoni in one over to dent India’s chances of posting a competitive total.
Ravichandran Ashwin top-scored with an unbeaten 31 to take India past the three-figure mark, which looked a distant prospect at one stage with the hosts struggling at 72 for eight.
Ashish Nehra picked up two early wickets to give India a glimmer of hope but a 39-run stand between Chandimal (35) and Chamara Kapugedera (25) put the tourists back on course.
Sri Lanka, missing fast bowler and regular captain Lasith Malinga, all-rounder Angelo Mathews and spinner Rangana Herath in the series due to injuries, stuttered once again with off-spinner Ashwin picking up two wickets.
But Milinda Siriwardana hit 21 off 14 balls as Sri Lanka reached their target with two overs to spare. The second match of the series will be played in Ranchi on Friday.
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