Sri Lanka look to bounce back from all-round failure in first T20I

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka admitted his team failed in all three departments in the first T20I against India in Lucknow on Thursday. 

 
The hosts scored an imposing total of 199, with Sri Lanka restricted to 137 for 6 in 20 overs.   
Sri Lanka were never in the chase after India’s pace spearhead Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed the openers including Pathum Nissanka for nought with the first ball of the innings.   

Charith Asalanka was the only batter to offer resistance with a half-century, as senior players Dinesh Chandimal and Dasun Shanaka were guilty of gifting their wickets.   

Sri Lanka will have a chance to level the series in today’s second T20I in Dharamsala, and going by Shanaka’s words, would need a significant improvement to their performance on Thursday.   
“We were really poor in all three departments. They batted beautifully, read the game and conditions really well,” he said.   

Already without talisman Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka were hit by another setback when Maheesh Theekshana pulled out due a hamstring injury that kept him out of Thursday’s T20I.   

Kusal Mendis is also sidelined by a hamstring injury and is unlikely to feature in the remaining T20Is, especially considered the Test series that is ahead.   

There is hope Mendis will be fit for the Test series, as he was named in the squad for the two Tests.   
All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne, who has become a staple of the limited over teams, might have the chance to add to his solitary Test cap against Australia in 2019. 

 
Still uncapped at Test level, leg spinner Jeffrey Vandersay has also been include, to bolster a spin department that will miss the services of Ramesh Mendis.   

Ramesh had an exceptional home Test series against West Indies, taking 18 wickets in just two Tests, to be adjudged the man of the series.   

Ramesh broke his thumb during a training session on the tour of Australia.   

Returning left-arm spinner Jadeja got senior batsman Dinesh Chandimal stumped for ten as wickets kept falling for the tourists.   

- AFP