SLvIND 1st T20I, Nidahas Trophy: Shikhar Dhawan’s 90 propels visitors to 174 in Colombo

India got to 174/5 thanks to a blistering knock by Shikhar Dhawan in the first T20I of the Nidahas Trophy on Tuesday.

Dhawan’s 90 off 49 helped the visitors recover after a horrid start at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The opener’s knock was studded with six fours and as many sixes.

Sri Lanka skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and chose to field first. His decision seemed to be vindicated as India lost Rohit Sharma and Suresh Raina inside the first two overs with just 9 on the board.

Rohit, leading the side in the absence of Virat Kohli, continued his poor form with the bat from the tour of South Africa. The right-hander tried to clear the in-field but was caught out after a brilliant effort from Jeevan Mendis.

Raina was the next to make his way back to the pavilion. The left-hander got clean-bowled to what was a full-toss by Nuwan Pradeep.

Dhawan then got together to stitch a valuable partnership with Manish Pandey for the third wicket. The duo found the boundary regularly and added 93 runs. Pandey’s 37 off 35 was the operfect foil to Dhawan’s all-out strokeplay.

A late cameo of a run a ball 23 from keeper-bat …read more