Axar’s Firey Knock Goes In Vain, Sri Lanka Win 2nd T20 By 16 Run

Pune: The firey innings of Axar Patel were brilliant but that was too late for India. Finally, Sri Lanka’s teamwork signified their victory over India by 10 runs.

India fought till last with the help of allrounder Axar Patel’s brilliant 65 runs (31 balls, 3 fours, 6 sixes).

Chasing a huge target of 207, India fought on till the end but ultimately Sri Lanka won by 16 runs to level the three-match series 1-1.

After a top-order collapse, Axar Patel (65) and Suryakumar Yadav (51) stitched a 91-run stand off just 40 balls.

Axar also combined with Shivam Mavi (26) to put up 41 runs off 22 balls. However, those heroic efforts were not enough to take India over the line.

Earlier, India lost the wickets of Ishan Kishan, Shubman Gill, Rahul Tripathi, and Hardik Pandya in a 207-run chase.

Sri Lanka displayed terrific hitting prowess to put up 206/6 in 20 overs. Dasun Shanaka scored 56* off just 22 balls while Kusal Mendis made 52 off 31 balls.

All Indian pacers proved to be costly. Arshdeep Singh bowled five no-balls and gave away 37 runs in two overs while Umran Malik gave 48 runs in four overs. He, however, took three wickets. Shivam Mavi gave away 53 runs in four overs.

Spinners Axar Patel (2/24) and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/30) were better than their pace counterparts.