Suryakumar Yadav has been in fantastic form during India’s current tour of Sri Lanka. The middle-order batsman scored a half-century in the first T20I against Sri Lanka on Sunday in Colombo, following a couple of useful knocks in the ODIs.
India set a challenging 165-run target for the hosts, with the 30-year-old scoring 50 off 34 deliveries. Surya hit five boundaries and two maximums in his innings. When India were reduced to 51 for 2 in the seventh over, he came in to bat. He formed a 62-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan for the third wicket before the Indian captain was dismissed by Chamika Karunaratne.
Suyakumar’s stylish batting continued with a maximum off Wanidu Hasaranga’s delivery, giving him his second T20I half-century.
Suryakumar lost his wicket on the very next ball after getting a fifty before he could hit a few more big shots. Suryakumar was forced to play a miscued shot that went straight to Ramesh Mendis at long-off after Hasaranga bowled a flighted delivery.
That was a major setback for India, as head coach Rahul Dravid’s expression showed that Suryakumar, who had gained momentum and appeared to be confident, had made a mistake.
With an unbeaten 14-ball 20 to help India post 164 for 5 in 20 overs, wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan attempted to speed up the innings towards the end.
Sri Lanka could only muster 126 runs in response, with Charith Asalanka scoring 44 runs.
