The rock star of Indian T20 cricket Ravindra Jadeja took his team to a series victory over Sri Lanka as he bludgeoned his way to a masterly unbeaten 45 in just 18 balls in the face of a 184 target in the second T20 International in Dharmasala last night.
Jadeja’s knock that had seven fours and a six overshadowed an unbeaten 47 made by Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka who cracked an unbeaten 47 in 19 balls with five sixes and two fours as India reached the target in only 17.1 overs to take an unbeatable 2-0 in the three match series.
Sri Lanka had just one tantalizing moment as India chased down the target when opener Rohit Sharma was bowled by Dushmantha Chameera in the first over for 1.
But thereafter only one team was playing as Shreyas Iyer smashed the bowlers to all parts of the ground to remain unbeaten on 74 from 44 balls with six fours and four sixes before Jadeja came to the crease for his show and Sri Lankan heads started to drop in defeat.
Shanaka was associated in a 58-run stand for the fifth wicket with opener Pathum Nissanka who anchored Sri Lanka’s innings with an equally belligerent 53-ball 75 which was studded with 11 hits to the fence.
Scores:
Sri Lanka 183 for 5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 75, Dhanushka Gunathilaka 38, Dasun Shanaka 47 not out)
India 186 for 3 in 17.1 overs (Shreyas Iyer 74 not out, Sanju Samson 39, Ravindra Jadeja 45 not out, Lahiru Kumara 2 for 31)