Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik and Shardul Thakur made valuable contributions to guide India to a 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the fourth T20I of the Nidahas Trophy in Colombo on Monday.
During a 153 run-chase, Pandey (42 not out) hit 3 fours and a six as India overhauled the target with 9 balls remaining to go top of the table in the tri-series which also involves Bangladesh.
India did not get off to an ideal start after both their openers Rohit Sharma (11) and Shikhar Dhawan (8) fell cheaply. But Suresh Raina and KL Rahul steadied India’s ship with a 40-run stand before the southpaw departed for 27 off 15 balls.
Rahul (18) too fell soon as he became the first Indian to be out hit-wicket when he fell in the 10th over bowled by Jeevan Mendis.
However, Pandey and Karthik (39 not out) then added an unbroken 68 runs for the fifth wicket to take India home. It was India’s second victory in the tri-series. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have won one each.
Earlier, Sri Lanka was restricted to 152/9 thanks to a superb bowling performance by Shardul Thakur, who finished with a career-best 4/27.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the match:
Come on boys @BCCI 🇮🇳🙋🏽♀️💪🏽
Ps- safe to say sports is always on atleast one tv in this house at all times 😂 pic.twitter.com/0T5c0X0GG0— Sania Mirza (@MirzaSania) March 12, 2018
Can't decide whether 'Pairo pe kulhaadi marna' or 'Kulhaadi pe pair maarna' 😭😂 pic.twitter.com/cQGZHrMnQv
— Abhishek ✨ (@ImAbhishek7_) March 12, 2018
Since his return, Karthik’s stocks are on a rise…finishing games off…staying not out till the end. Today, took pressure off Pandey ji too. #SLvIND
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) March 12, 2018
Congratulations to Team India on a clinical victory. Great bowling by Shardul and Washington and sensible batting from Manish Pandey and Karthik to drive us home. #SlvIND
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) March 12, 2018
Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey were cool and composed and India did it quite easily in the end. Raina's catch was outstanding . Easy victory. #SLvIND
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) March 12, 2018
Most matches lost at a venue in T20Is:
14 – SRI LANKA at Colombo (RPS)*
14 – Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club #SLvIND— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) March 12, 2018
Normalcy restored. India beats Sri Lanka comfortably. That’s what everyone is used to seeing. Well played @im_manishpandey #INDvSL #nidahas
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) March 12, 2018
In Manish Pandey, Team India has found a genuine finisher. He has done this role before in ODIs too. Don't expect him to score big. But his contributions lower order, will be vital for the team.#SLvIND#NidahasTrophy2018
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) March 12, 2018
Superb come back today @BCCI Congratulations on the man of the match bro @imShard & it was beautiful to watch the way @im_manishpandey & @DineshKarthik finished the game 👌 #INDvSL #TeamIndia #NidhasTrophy2018
— Karun Nair (@karun126) March 12, 2018
First Indian batsman to be hit-wicket:
In Tests – Lala Amarnath, 1949
In ODIs – Nayan Mongia, 1995
In T20Is – KL RAHUL, Today#SLvIND #NidahasTrophy— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) March 12, 2018
https://twitter.com/SparshTelang/status/973235923306647554
Rohit Sharma Is Giving Tight Slap To Haters Who Say He Performs Only Against Sri Lanka, On Flat Pitches. 🤪#SLvIND #INDvSL #RohitSharma
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) March 12, 2018
Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey finish off the game easily from a tricky situation. Good to see Sri Lanka getting an authentic thrashing again.
— Saurabh Malhotra (@MalhotraSaurabh) March 12, 2018
Splendid batting by Pandey and Karthik: cool head, picked gaps well, ran hard between wickets, quelled Sri Lankan challenge effectively
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) March 12, 2018
A composed innings by @im_manishpandey and @DineshKarthik with a glimpse of @ImRaina’s magic helps #TeamIndia chase the target of 153 with 6 wickets and 9 balls to spare. 🇮🇳 are now on top of the tri-series table. 👏🏻👏🏻#SLvIND #NidahasTrophy pic.twitter.com/edxd0qK0rM
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL) March 12, 2018
