Captain Dashun Shanaka produced an all-round display, first smashing unbeaten 56 off 22 balls after which protecting 21 within the ultimate over to take his group house within the do-or-die come across.
Along with Dasun, wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis hit a 31-ball 52 to energy Sri Lanka to an impressive 206 for six.
India gave it their all, however Sri Lanka have drawn degree within the collection with a win in a high-scoring sport in Pune 👏… https://t.co/97lvAwFFn6
— ICC (@ICC) 1672938834000
India had a nightmare begin to their chase slumping to 57 for five earlier than Axar and Surya raised hopes of an unbelievable win with a scintillating sixth-wicket stand.
The activity become difficult as soon as Surya departed within the sixteenth over, however Axar and Shivam Mavi (26 off 15) shared a handy guide a rough 41 runs to carry down the equation to 21 off the closing over.
But Axar’s dismissal within the 3rd ball of the general over used to be the closing nail within the coffin for India.
Chasing the whole, India misplaced openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill in the second one over to Kasun Rajitha.
If that used to be no longer sufficient debutant Rahul Tripathi sneaked one to Kusal Mendis off Dilshan Madhushanaka within the subsequent over earlier than skipper Hardik Pandya departed an over later as India slumped to 34 for 4 in 4.4 overs.
Surya and Deepak Hooda attempted to stabilize the innings with a hard-fought 23-run partnership however with the asking price creeping up, the latter departed searching for a large shot, stuck by way of Dhananjaya de Silva off Hasarnaga de Silva as India misplaced half of in their aspect for 57.
Surya and Axar attempted to up the ante with a sensational 91-run sixth-wicket partnership off simply 40 balls to stay India afloat after a forgettable get started.
Axar used to be in particular critical on off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, clobbering the bowler for a 4 and a six over long-on within the thirteenth over.
It used to be no longer simply Theekshana, Hasaranga de Silva too needed to endure the brunt of Axar’s aggression because the left-hander smacked the bowler for a hat-trick of sixes within the 14th over.
Axar introduced up his maiden fifty off simply 20 balls with a six of Karunaratne over long-off.
Surya adopted swimsuit, registering every other positive fifty with a six off over square-leg off Madhushanaka.
The duo raised hopes of a well-known victory but it surely used to be to not be because the guests pulled the strings simply in time to degree the collection.
Earlier, it used to be a disastrous efficiency from the Indian bowlers after electing to box because the Lankan batters went hammer and tongs from the onset. Barring Axar (2/24 from his 4 overs), all different Indian bowlers went for runs.
Even although speedster Umar Malik (3/48) picked up 3 wickets, he too used to be taken to the cleaners, whilst closing tournament’s hero Mavi (0/53) appeared a faded shadow of himself.
Arshdeep Singh conceded 19 runs in the second one over, which incorporated two back-to-back no balls that yielded 17 runs.
Hardik too went for 11 runs from his 2nd over as Mendis top-edged one over deep 3rd guy.
Mavi used to be additionally taken to the cleaners by way of Mendis in his opening over, which yielded 15 runs.
Spin duo of Axar and Yuzvendra Chahal (1/30) gave respite for 2 overs earlier than Pathum Nisanka (33) struck a 4 after which a mammoth six over deep midwicket. India’s first step forward got here within the 9th over when Chahal had Mendis LBW after Hardik went for a a success evaluation.
Sri Lanka suffered their 2nd blow within the first supply of the following over when Malik beat Bhanuka Rajapaksa by way of tempo to transparent his stumps.
Despite dropping two wickets, Sri Lanka reached a wholesome rating of 89 on the half-way mark.
But Axar tasted luck quickly when he disregarded Nissanka, stuck by way of Tripathy. He snared his 2nd sufferer of the day in his subsequent over when Dhananjaya de Silva used to be stuck by way of Hooda at lengthy on.
Charith Asalanka (37) appeared in ominous temper as he dispatched Chahal over deep midwicket in consecutive deliveries.
Aslanka then pulled a Malik quick supply for every other six however 3 balls later the pacer had the closing snort as he had the batter stuck by way of Gill with a equivalent supply in his subsequent over.
Malik knocked off the timbers off Wanindu Hasaranga with a pacy supply a ball later to face within the probability of a hat-trick.
But it used to be to not be Malik’s day as Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka muscled the bowler over his head for a one jump 4.