Match reports

Sri Lanka v India, 2012

Wisden's review of the only Twenty20, Sri Lanka v India, 2012

Rex Clementine
15-Apr-2013
At Pallekele, August 7, 2012 (floodlit). India won by 39 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka. Twenty20 international debuts: R. M. S. Eranga; U. T. Yadav.
For both sides this was a final trial run before the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September, and India ended up with another comfortable victory. They made a power-packed start, as 50 came up from just 30 deliveries, but then the spinners applied the brakes before Kohli smacked 68 from 48 balls. He hit nine of his first 19 deliveries for four, including three in a row off Perera.Medium-pacer Shaminda Eranga, returning after injury, completed a unique hat-trick of first-over dismissals by bowling Gambhir with his fourth ball in Twenty20 internationals: in 2011 he had taken wickets with his first ball in Tests, and his second in one-day internationals. Pathan again derailed Sri Lanka's innings with two wickets in three deliveries, and later removed Jayawardene too. The lively Dinda wrapped things up with three wickets in five balls.
Man of the Match: I. K. Pathan. Man of the Series: V. Kohli.