IND vs SL 1st T20I Commentary - Lucknow (24 February 2022)

A length delivery on off. Dushmantha Chameera heaves it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A slower length delivery around leg. Charith Asalanka works it towards short fine leg for a single.

Another length delivery outside off. Dushmantha Chameera slams it to long on for a single.

A yorker this time outside off. Charith Asalanka skips down the track and looks to hit it away but misses.

A low full toss on off. Charith Asalanka plays it left of the bowler. Patel half-stops it as a single is taken towards long on.

So couple of runs to end the game! India have put together another dominating performance! A very full delivery outside off. Dushmantha Chameera lifts this towards deep extra-cover and gets a couple as the fielder at long off cuts it off. India win by 62 runs!

A low full toss outside off. Charith Asalanka drills it to long off for a single.

A length delivery on off. Dushmantha Chameera pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

Nails a yorker this time outside off. Charith Asalanka looks to dig it out but misses.

A fuller delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka works it to deep mid-wicket for a couple. Fifty for Charith Asalanka. He has been a lone wolf today. Dushmantha Chameera was struggling at the bowler's end as they went for the second run but Bumrah fails to collect the throw cleanly.

  A fuller delivery on middle. Chamika Karunaratne works it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

A yorker on off. Dushmantha Chameera digs it out towards long off for a single.

Iyer serves this on a length and slower in pace around off. Dushmantha Chameera steers it to short third man for a single.

FOUR! Charith Asalanka is playing some classy shots, every now and then! A fuller delivery outside off. Charith Asalanka lifts this towards deep extra-cover for a boundary.

Shorter and outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

SIX! This time a biggie from Dushmantha Chameera! A slower length ball, on off. Dushmantha Chameera gets low and slog-sweeeps it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

WIDE! Full and a bit too wide outside off. Dushmantha Chameera lets it go.

FOUR! Another boundary, so Venkatesh Iyer is going for some runs in his third over! A low full toss around leg. Dushmantha Chameera flicks it towards backward square leg for a boundary.

FOUR! 21 runs from the over! Almost a yorker this time around off. Dushmantha Chameera gets deep in his crease and steers it towards third man for a boundary. Good over for Lanka but too late now. 75 needed from 12 balls!

WIDE! That spins big! Lands outside off and turns back in. It ends up going down the leg side. Wided.

On off, blocked

A single as this is worked through mid-wicket.

Two more! The sweep is out, it is hit through mid-wicket for two.

Shorter and on the body, this is pulled through mid-wicket for one.

On middle, defended.

A single to end as this is worked through mid-wicket.

Outside off, Asalanka looks to go over it, he gets an underedge back to the bowler.

Shorter and on the body, Asalanka pulls, it goes off the glove but lands of short of short fine leg. One taken. 

SIX! Bang? That goes all the way! Chamika comes down the track and gets to the pitch of it. He whips it over mid-wicket for a biggie.

OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! So after playing few good shots, Chamika Karunaratne has to walk back. A length delivery wide outside off. Chamika Karunaratne goes chasing for it but gets an outside edge. The ball goes to the keeper and Ishan Kishan takes an easy catch. So the match is almost gone for Lanka now and it is the matter of if they can play out 20 overs.

Outside off. This is cut over point for one.

Outside off, on a length. Charith looks to push at it but misses.

On middle, this is pushed back to the bowler.

SIX! He has hit that beautifully! Lanka need a it to rain boundaries if they are to get close to the Indian total. On middle, fuller, this is lofted over the long on fence for a biggie.

On middle, this is worked through mid-widket for one.

FOUR! Up and over! Lovely shot. Tossed up on off, Asalanka lifts it over covers for a boundary. 

Shorter and on off, this is slapped down to long off for one.

Two more! On middle, this is worked through mid-wicket for two. 

Flattee and on middle, defended.

On off, this is pushed through covers for one.

Two more then! On the pads, this is worked with soft hands on the leg side for two. 

FOUR! That is hit pretty well! This is on middle and the reverse sweep comes out. Samson at deep point runs to his right and dives but it goes well away from him. 

A single to follow the boundary as this is worked towards mid-wicket.

A single to end! On middle, this is hit down to long on for one.

Shorter and outside off, Asalanka looks to cut but gets an underedge on the off side.

Outside off, this is slapped through covers for one.

Two! On middle, this is worked through mid-wicket, it is in the gap, two taken.

Flatter and on middle, this is pushed down to long on for one.

Flatter and on off, this is one stays a touch low. Asalanka manages to push it to cover.

That one stays low! Outside off, Charith looks to sweep. This one does not bounce a lot and sneaks under the bat.

A flatter delivery on off. Charith Asalanka pushes it to covers.

Shorter and outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

A flatter delivery on middle. Chamika Karunaratne works it towards short fine leg and takes a single.

A quicker delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka blocks it out.

NOT OUT! A fuller delivery on leg. Charith Asalanka looks to sweep but gets the inside edge onto his pads and the ball rolls towards short fine leg. Rohit Sharma there charges in and fires a direct hit at the batter's end. Chamika Karunaratne who is running at the danger end as they try to steal a single. The umpire refers it upstairs and the replays show that he has just made it. So a single in the end.

A slightly shorter length delivery on off. Chamika Karunaratne pushes it back to the bowler.

Googly outside off this time. Charith Asalanka pushes it to long off for a single.

A fuller delivery around leg. Dasun Shanaka looks to reverse sweep it but gets hit on the body.

A fuller delivery on off. Pushed towards covers.

A fuller delivery on middle. Dasun Shanaka sweeps it to deep square leg for a couple.

OUT! CAUGHT! The Sri Lankan skipper departs now!  Sri Lanka have completely lost their way here. A fuller delivery on middle. Dasun Shanaka goes for the reverse-sweep again. This time he connects but hits it straigtht to Bhuvneshwar Kumar at point. He takes an easy catch and half of the side is back to the hut now. Chamika Karunaratne is the next man in.

A fuller delivery on off. Chamika Karunaratne drives it to mid off now.

A shorter delivery on off. Charith Asalanka pulls it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

OUT! STUMPED! Another one bites the dust and this time Ravindra Jadeja foxes the batter and Dinesh Chandimal has to walk back. Dinesh Chandimal skips down the track a tad early there and Jadeja pulls his length back and bowls this on middle. Dinesh Chandimal tries to work it towards the leg side but the ball turns away and beats him. Kishan collects the ball,behind the stumps and whips the bails off in the flash as Dinesh Chandimal is out of his crease.

A slower delivery that is pused hard on length by Jadeja. Shanaka tries to work it towards the leg side but gets a leading edge and the ball goes in the air but just away from Jadeja. A single taken.

FOUR! Nicely played this time! A flatter delivery on off. Charith Asalanka waits for it and late-cuts it towards the third man region for a boundary.

A fuller delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka pushes it to long on for a single.

Beaten this time! A fuller delivery that is turning away. Dasun Shanaka looks to push at it but misses.

A shorter delivery outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Tossed up delivery on middle. Dinesh Chandimal works it towards the leg side.

A flatter delivery on off. Pushed towards covers for a single.

A flighted delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka defends this off the inside half of his blade to backward square leg for a single.

A fuller delivery on middle. Dinesh Chandimal knocks it  down to long on for a single.

Shorter and outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

A flatter delivery around leg. Charith Asalanka works it to mid-wicket for a single.

A flatter delivery on off. Dinesh Chandimal blocks it out.

Slightly shorter in length, on middle. Dinesh Chandimal works it to deep backward square leg for a couple.

SIX! This is a good shot and much-needed one for Lanka! A tossed up delivery on middle. Dinesh Chandimal gets low and slog-sweeps it over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

A flatter delivery on off. Dinesh Chandimal blocks it out.

A fuller delivery around off. Dinesh Chandimal looks to drive it away but misses. 155 needed now from 72 balls!

Back of a length, around off. Charith Asalanka dabs it to backward point for a single.

Shorter length and around off. Janith Liyanage steers it to third man for a single.

Back of a length, around off. Charith Asalanka punches this off the backfoot to deep cover for a couple.

Short and wide outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it to sweeper cover for a single.

Short and wide outside off. Janith Liyanage cuts it to deep point for a couple.

OUT! CAUGHT! Venkatesh Iyer gets the wicket now and Sri Lanka sink further! A slower short ball, outside off. Janith Liyanage strangely tries to pull it from way outside off and ends up getting a top edge. The ball loops up in the air towards backward point and Samson there takes an easy catch.

A fuller delivery down the leg side. Charith Asalanka sweeps it to backward square leg.

This time Shreyas Iyer drops it! A tossed up delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka slog-sweeps it towards deep square leg but is goes straight to Shreyas Iyer there. He fails to pouch it and this is poor effort by Shreyas Iyer. A single taken.

A fuller delivery on middle. Janith Liyanage pushes it to long on for a single.

NOT OUT! Charith Asalanka survives again! This time a good review by him! A tossed up delivery on middle. Charith Asalanka looks to sweep but gets the thin part of his blade onto his pads. There is an huge appeal for LBW and the umpire raises his finger. However, Charith Asalanka reviews it and the replays show a spike off the UltraEdge. So he survives.

A fuller delivery on off. Charith Asalanka pushes it to backward point for a single.

A fuller delivery on leg. Janith Liyanage works it to mid-wicket.

A length delivery around off. Janith Liyanage skips down the track and looks to heave this across the line but misses.

On a length, around off. Janith Liyanage pushes it to covers for a single.

On a length, on middle. Charith Asalanka works it to mid-wicket now.

A slower length delivery around leg. Charith Asalanka works it fine towards short fine leg for a single.

A fuller delivery outside off. Janith Liyanage drives it to cover-point this time.

Ohh...the ball just lost all its pace as it stops just short of the ropes there! A length delivery on middle. Janith Liyanage lifts this over mid on but the ball strangely does not races away towards the boundary and stops short of the fence. Two runs taken.

A length delivery around off. Janith Liyanage steers it to third man for a single.

A yorker on middle this time. Charith Asalanka digs it out behind square on the leg side for a single.

  A length delivery on off. Janith Liyanage blocks this off the front foot.

  A length delivery around off. Janith Liyanage steers it to third man for a single.

This is slower and outside off. Charith Asalanka looks to work it towards the off side but misses.

FOUR! Nicely played this one! Shorter and outside off. Charith Asalanka waits for it and just upper cuts it over short third man for a boundary.

A good-length delivery around off. This one seams away again. Janith Liyanage looks to push at it but gets beaten off the outside edge. Good bounce there too.

A length delivery around off. Janith Liyanage steers it to third man for a single.

A length delivery on off. Kamil Mishara looks to heave it but gets the inside edge onto the pads.

Dropped by Venkatesh Iyer!  A length delivery around off. Kamil Mishara looks to hit it across the line but gets a huge top edge. The ball goes in the air towards point and Venkatesh Iyer there settles under it but fails to pouch it. Two runs taken.

A full toss on off. Kamil Mishara drives it to covers now.

OUT! CAUGHT! This time he is gone and Rohit Sharma makes no mistake! A length delivery on off. Kamil Mishara heaves this one hard but straight to Rohit Sharma at mid-wicket. He takes a good catch and second wicket for Bhuvneshwar Kumar now. So Venkatesh Iyer will be a relieved man as that dropped catch has not cost India much.

On middle, this is worked to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Lovely timing! Length and on off, this is driven on the up through covers and for a boundary.

Shorter and angling away. Mishara looks to defend but is beaten. 

A yorker outside off. Mishara fails to jam it out.

Swing and a miss! Outside off, Mishara slashes but misses.

Two more! Shorter and on middle, this is pulled through mid-wicket for two.

OUT! TIMBER! That is the worst possible start for Lanka chasing such a big total. Their best player against Australia walks back for a first-baller. Unfortunate for Nissanka though. This is on a length and around off, this lands and then stays low. Nissanka looks to defend, it hits the bottom edge and then rolls behind onto the stump. Kumar has been really good since the last series and has began this well too.

On off, this is pushed to covers for one.

FOUR! Up and over! Outside off, fuller, this is lofted over point for a boundary.

A quick run! On off, this is played on the off side for one.

Another one on a length and on off, blocked.

Beaten! Length and on off, this lands and moves away. Janith is beaten as he tries to defend.