IND vs SL: Pathum Nissanka's 79 in vain as India defeat Sri Lanka in 1st T20I; Riyan Parag picks 3 wickets

After posting 213 runs on the batting-friendly track of Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Team India set out to defend the total. However, Pathum Nissanka stood strong for Sri Lanka, scoring 79 off 48 balls with 7 fours and 4 sixes. His partner, Kusal Mendis, contributed 45 off 27 balls, giving the Lankan side a steady and strong start. The Men in Blue were searching for wickets, and Arshdeep Singh delivered the breakthrough in the 8.4th over, which shifted the momentum in India's favour.

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Wickets then tumbled, and Sri Lanka was all out for 170 runs in 19.2 overs, handing India a 43-run victory. With this, India has taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Interestingly, Riyan Parag was the highest wicket-taker, picking up 3 wickets, followed by Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh with 2 wickets each. Mohammed Siraj and Ravi Bishnoi also contributed with 1 wicket each.

Earlier, after a great start by Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal, captain Suryakumar Yadav delivered a strong performance, scoring his half-century in just 22 balls. Gill and Jaiswal had posted 73 runs within 6 overs. However, Dilshan Madushanka dismissed Gill, and later, Wanindu Hasaranga got the better of Jaiswal. Both batters fell one after the other in two different overs. Shubman Gill looked like he had found his form, scoring 34 off 16 balls, including 6 fours and 1 six, while Jaiswal added 40 runs in 21 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes.

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Rishabh Pant also contributed 49 off 33 balls, but after that, no batter stayed for long. Hardik Pandya (9 off 10), Riyan Parag (7 off 6), Rinku Singh (1 off 2), Axar Patel (10* off 5), and Arshdeep Singh (1* off 1) added some runs.

Matheesha Pathirana was the standout Sri Lankan bowler, taking 4 wickets, while Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, and Wanindu Hasaranga each picked up 1 wicket.

IND vs SL teams:

India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Riyan Parag, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

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