Nidahas Trophy: Kusal Perera assault powers Sri Lanka past India

Colombo, March 6: A breezy Kusal Perera fifty contained enough torque in it to take Sri Lanka through a mid-innings meltdown and eventually to a five-wicket win over India in the opening T20I of the Nidahas Trophy 2018 at the R Premadasa Stadium here on Tuesday (March 6).

SCOREBOARD | PREVIEW

Shikhar Dhawan made a breathtaking 90 (49b, 6x4, 6x6) that powered India to a par for the course 174/5 after they decided to field. However, Perera made a stunning 66 (37b, 6x4, 4x6) and Thissara Perera rattled up a quick 22 off 10 balls in the end as home side went past the target in 18.3 overs.

Kusal Janith Perera #KJP won the Man of the Match for his 37 ball 66. Congratulations! #HeroNidahasTrophy #SLvIND pic.twitter.com/QiecyQ08cO

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) March 6, 2018

Sri Lanka will also be happy about the fact that at last they have managed to arrest the slide against India that started with a home series in August last year and continued through the away series in the neighbouring country.

For that, Lanka should thank Perera, who was in a devastating mood. Sri Lanka raced past fifty in the fourth over and 100 in the 10th over as victory seemed just a formality. In fact, left-handed Perera, who reminded so much of former Sri Lankan left-handed opener Sanath Jayasuriya in shot-making, slammed pacer Shardul Thakur for 27 runs in an over that took the wind out of India's sailing.

But at this stage, the Indian bowlers managed to peg back Sri Lankans with a few wickets. But by then Lanka had reached a stage from where they could easily push for a victory.

And they did it without much alarm in the end - nine balls to spare.

Shardul Thakur to Kusal Perera:
2.1 - Four
2.2 - Four
2.3 - Four
2.4 - Six
2.5 - No ball, Four
2.5 - Four
2.6 - No Run
SL 46/1 (3.0 Ovs)#HeroNidahasTrophy #SLvIND

— Sri Lanka Cricket (@OfficialSLC) March 6, 2018

Dhawan, though ended up in the losing side, too played a stunning piece as no other Indian batsman found his range on the pitch that at times played a bit slow.

Rohit Sharma look to send Dushmanta Chameera with a shot played on the up but Kusal Mendis grabbed a brilliant running catch on the outfield to stun India.

Suresh Raina, who impressed in his comeback T20I series against South Africa last month, gave himself room against Nuwan Pradeep. But the ball evaded his attempt to carve the ball over cover and crashed onto the woodwork.

At 9/2, India was in some trouble but Dhawan and Manish Pandey, though not at his fluent best, milked 95 runs for third wicket that kept India in the race.

Pandey later fell in his effort to accelerate the run rate but Dhawan carried on with a mix of top edged and well-timed shots to the fence and over it.

His innings played a massive role in India getting to a competitive total.

What a win !! Boys were brilliant. @KusalJPerera @PereraThisara @DuSh_Chameera were outstanding. Way to go. Lions 👏👏👏

— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) March 6, 2018

But the bowling that did not have Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Kuldeep Yadav did not have the desired experience or fire power to thwart the Lankan charge on this night.