RESULT
4th Match (N), Colombo (RPS), March 12, 2018, Nidahas Twenty20 Tri-Series
(19/19 ov) 152/9
(17.3/19 ov, T:153) 153/4

India won by 6 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
4/27
shardul-thakur
New
IND
Full commentary

Before I sign off, here's some more quality reading for Indian sports fans. The marquee All England Championships start later this week and Saina Nehwal and PV Sindhu will look to become the first Indian to win the women's singles title at the tournament. Read more here.

Shardul Thakur is the Player of the Match for his 4 for 27.

11.47pm The bowling that Pandey's referring to was largely thanks to the brilliant efforts of Shardul Thakur and Washington Sundar. How this great game is a leveller. He went for 27 off an over the other night against Sri Lanka. Tonight, Thakur recorded his career-best figures. Sundar too was magnificent with his offspin, varying his pace and lengths to great effect. He's developed quite a skill, bowling in the powerplay too.

Manish Pandey, who finished unbeaten on 42, with a flash interview: Batting at No. 5, I think I should be there till the end to finish games. The bowlers came back very well after the first game. Well done to them for restricting this to 152. We didn't have too much batting after 6-7, so it was nice to have that stand with DK.

11.42pm On a pitch when the ball spun and gripped, India overcame early hiccups to make lightwork of this target. Karthik and Pandey, who seem under the pressure to score every time they walk out to bat, approached the situation with calm heads and played percentage cricket to bring the chase to within touching distance before finishing it off in style.

17.3
1
Pradeep to Karthik, 1 run

full outside off, squeezed to deep point as India complete a comprehensive win.

17.2
4
Pradeep to Karthik, FOUR runs

full toss, Karthik waits inside the crease and wallops this on the bounce to the long-on fence. Teeing off like a golfer, almost carried.

17.1
4
Pradeep to Karthik, FOUR runs

short outside off, Karthik winds up to pull this with disdain. One bounce to the midwicket fence. He had plenty of time to put that away

end of over 1710 runs
IND: 144/4CRR: 8.47 RRR: 5.00
Dinesh Karthik30 (22b 3x4)
Manish Pandey42 (31b 3x4 1x6)
Dushmantha Chameera 3-0-33-0
Jeevan Mendis 4-0-34-1
16.6
1
Chameera to Karthik, 1 run

turns this towards midwicket as they scamper a single. 10 off the over

16.5
1
Chameera to Pandey, 1 run

makes room and punches this length delivery to sweeper cover

16.4
1
Chameera to Karthik, 1 run

dabs this gently down to third man as they jog the single

16.3
4
Chameera to Karthik, FOUR runs

hoicked over midwicket. Too full and angling in, DK used the length to his advantage. There was no one in the deep, so it was a safe shot so long as he cleared the infield

16.2
1
Chameera to Pandey, 1 run

dabs this gently down to third man

16.2
1w
Chameera to Pandey, 1 wide

shapes to slash this over but lets it go. Way over his head, wide called

16.1
1
Chameera to Karthik, 1 run

stands tall and steers this down to third man

Chameera

end of over 1611 runs
IND: 134/4CRR: 8.37 RRR: 6.66
Manish Pandey40 (29b 3x4 1x6)
Dinesh Karthik23 (18b 2x4)
Jeevan Mendis 4-0-34-1
Thisara Perera 2-0-17-0
15.6
2
Jeevan Mendis to Pandey, 2 runs

drifts this into middle and leg, Pandey turns this towards midwicket

15.5
1
Jeevan Mendis to Karthik, 1 run

flat-bats this pull down to long-on

15.4
1
Jeevan Mendis to Pandey, 1 run

driven with the spin to sweeper cover as they jog the single

15.3
1
Jeevan Mendis to Karthik, 1 run

slider on off stump, he rocks back and punches this wide of cover

15.2
2
Jeevan Mendis to Karthik, 2 runs

chops this cut towards point, there's a direct hit at the bowler's end and they take an extra run off the deflection

15.1
4
Jeevan Mendis to Karthik, FOUR runs

top shot from a top quality player. Tossed it up, but DK waited for the turn as he rocked back and nailed this cut to the cover boundary. Superb use of the crease

end of over 159 runs
IND: 123/4CRR: 8.20 RRR: 7.75
Dinesh Karthik15 (14b 1x4)
Manish Pandey37 (27b 3x4 1x6)
Thisara Perera 2-0-17-0
Akila Dananjaya 4-0-19-2
14.6
1
Perera to Karthik, 1 run

length on middle, this nips back in to thud into the thigh pad and deflect to the off side

14.5
1
Perera to Pandey, 1 run

whips this full delivery from middle stump towards deep midwicket

14.4
Perera to Pandey, no run

back of length outside off, steered straight to point

14.3
6
Perera to Pandey, SIX runs

nailed this pull, clears deep midwicket. This is mighty impressive. Pandey picked the length early and just gave it a proper whack

14.2
Perera to Pandey, no run

makes room and punches this length delivery to cover

14.1
1
Perera to Karthik, 1 run

short on middle and leg, pulled towards deep square leg