Sri Lanka held their nerve to just see off a depleted India team to keep the series alive heading into the final match of the series.
India may not be able to field a team for the match after Navdeep Saini went down injured late in the game.
Sri Lanka vs India | Third T20I | Thursday 29 July 2021 | Premadasa Stadium | 16:30
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka bowled well in the second T20I to give themselves a chance in the series but concerns about their batting remain.
Dhananjaya de Silva did the job of getting Sri Lanka over the line but would have to commend the work of Wanindu Hasaranga and Chamika Karunaratne.
Hasaranga is making a case for being Sri Lanka’s most valuable player, taking on the responsibility of batting in the top six with aplomb.
Dasun Shanaka used a lot of bowlers and rolled with the punches in the field, while his team provided India with a bowling blueprint they for once edged the game on execution.
India
India won’t be too disappointed with their second T20I loss considering the backdrop of the match with the tourists reduced to 11 players from whom to pick a team.
With Saini injured, India face a real problem with the final match of the series coming straight after the second, in a tour wracked by the effects of COVID-19.
Kuldeep Yadav just about gave India control of the game, but a couple of fielding errors cost him runs and a wicket or two.
India need their senior players to step up in these contests and too many of them have been anonymous.
Verdict: Sri Lanka
Depleted India are on the ropes.
