Team India succumbed to Sri Lanka by 16 runs in the second T20I at the MCA stadium in Pune on Thursday (January 5). While chasing a colossal target of 207, Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav did launch a fightback but couldn't save India from going down to the Island nation to leave the series levelled at 1-1 with a match to spare. While Suryakumar smashed 51 off 36, Axar belted 65 off 31 but after India's top order misfired yet again.
The second tie saw the return of Arshdeep Singh in India's Playing XI, who had to sit out of the first match. Arshdeep, who is dubbed the death-overs specialist, didn't live up to the expectation in the second T20I and looked in complete disarray in a spell of two overs in which he conceded 37 runs. Beside being taken to cleaners by the Sri Lankan batters, Arshdeep also surprised everyone by his no-ball spree.
The star left-arm pacer gave away five no-balls in total. In the 19th over, the left-arm pacer got the dangerous Dasun Shanaka out as the Sri Lankan captain hit the ball straight into the hands of Suryakumar Yadav in the deep.
However, the ball was ruled a no-ball and the dismissal was declared null and void. This was Arshdeep's fourth no-ball of the innings which left India skipper Hardik in utter disbelief, who looked covering his face in frustration and disappointment.
Here's the video…
Introduced into the attack in the second over of Sri Lanka's innings, left-arm pacer Arshdeep ended up bowling back-to-back three no-balls in the opening spell. Giving Sri Lanka a rollicking start in the Powerplay, pacer Arshdeep leaked 19 runs in the second over. Pacer Arshdeep bowled his first no-ball on the penultimate delivery of the second over.
After bowling a wide, Arshdeep conceded a boundary on the next ball which was also deemed a no-ball by the umpire. Skipper Pandya was in disbelief when the hooter went off for the third time after Sri Lanka opener Mendis smashed Arshdeep for a maximum. The under-fire pacer eventually switched to round the wicket to complete his forgetful over during the 2nd T20I between the Asian giants.
Cashing on Arshdeep's bowling diasterclass, Sri Lanka managed to reach 49 without losing a single wicket in 5 overs. Interestingly, pacer Arshdeep ended up creating an unwanted record after leaking 19 runs in his very first over of the 2023 season. Star pacer Arshdeep has become the first Indian bowler to bowl a hat-trick of no balls in the shortest format of the game.
India and Sri Lanka will lock horns with each other in the series decider third T20I on January 7 now.
