The Indian openers stitched together a stand of 111 runs to pile misery on Sri Lanka in the first of three match T20I series in Lucknow.
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India continued their fine run in the shortest format of the game as openers Ishan Kishan (89) and Shreyas Iyer (57 not out) made merry of Sri Lanka to post a daunting total of 199/2 in the first of three match T20I series at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Thursday. Asked to bat, Kishan and Rohit Sharma (44) put the visitors to their sword by forging a 111-run stand for the opening wicket. Both the batters looked in control of their proceedings and complimented each other to add to the scoreboard for the top-ranked side.
The India captain missed out on a half-century nearly after playing 32 deliveries which included two boundaries and one hit over the fence. However, the southpaw, who is featuring as the wicket-keeper batter in absence of Rishabh Pant, continued to play some excellent shots to make run scoring look easy.
Kishan smashed 10 boundaries and three sixes in his 56-ball cameo to make his spot further stronger for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia as an opener. He batted at the strike rate of an astonishing 159 and also justified his big price tag of the upcoming IPL.
Later, Iyer, who stepped into bat in place of the rested Virat Kohli, continued to add on India’s dominance. His 28-ball unbeaten innings included five boundaries and two sixes.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka utilised six bowlers, and chipped in with two overs himself, but to no respite.
Heavyweights India lived up to the billing of the best side in the shortest format currently and made light work of the Sri Lankan bowlers. Medium-pacer Lahiru Kumara (1/43) and Shanaka (1/19) were among wickets for the visitors.
However, Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne and Kumara, leaked runs at an economy rate over 10 in their stipulated four overs spell each.
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