PHOTO COURTESY: 2015 ICC CRICKET WORLD CUP
Premier off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bagged a career-best 4-8 to help India skittle out the visitors for 82 — Sri Lanka’s lowest T20I score — before cantering home in 13.5 overs.
Continuing their winning run after the 3-0 triumph in Australia, India overcame the first loss in Pune to get the better of a depleted Sri Lankan side in the next two games.
“I feel it was a very good game, it was important we restricted them to a decent total. Ashwin was the pick [of the bowlers] but he was well supported by the others,” said Dhoni, before turning his attention to the future. “In between, you will lose one or two games. We want to keep playing the way we’re playing. Consistency will give us the confidence. Eight seasons of the Indian Premier League have given us the experience.”
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, were left to rue the failures of their batsmen as they folded yet again for a small score. “We didn’t perform well throughout the series as batsmen. If we got 140-plus, we would have had a chance, but we didn’t do that. Losing wickets happens with an inexperienced team,” said skipper Dinesh Chandimal. “I’m impressed with bowlers [Dasun] Shanaka and [Dushmantha] Chameera. We need to regroup as a team.”
Ashwin bagged not only the man of the match award but also the man of the series for his nine wickets.
“I hope this lasts forever,” said Ashwin of his recent purple patch. “The ball is coming out pretty well. I’ve been working pretty hard, I want to contribute to the team rather than being a liability.”
It was Dhoni’s first T20I bi-lateral series win on home soil as the World T20 hosts hammered home their status as one of the favourites for the title in March.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 16th, 2016.
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