Chahal takes four as India thump Sri Lanka

Dec 20, 2017 - 5:49 PM Leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal picked up four wickets to guide India to a 93-run win against Sri Lanka in the opening Twenty20 international at Cuttack.

Opener Lokesh Rahul hit 61 off 48 balls to build the platform for India's innings of 3-180 in 20 overs after Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field.

The tourists were all out for 87, matching their second lowest total in the format and handing India their biggest victory margin by runs in T20s.

Coming in to bowl inside the batting powerplay, Chahal finished with 4-23 in his four overs.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 2-18 while Seamer Hardik Pandya wrapped up the tail with 3-29 as Sri Lanka were bundled out in 16 overs.

India lost stand-in captain Rohit Sharma (17) early but Rahul and Shreyas Iyer, who made 24, added 63 for the second wicket to give the home side a solid base.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Manish Pandey provided the late flourish with a fourth-wicket stand of 68 as the duo added 61 in the last four overs of India's innings.

Dhoni remained unbeaten on 39 from 22 balls while Pandey made 32 off 18 deliveries.

Sri Lanka must now win the second match at Indore on Friday to keep alive their hopes of claiming at least one series across the formats on their tour.

Source: AAP