END OF OVER:20 | 4 Runs 2 Wkts | IND: 190/8 (17 runs required, RR: 9.50)
- Umran Malik1 (1b)
- Dasun Shanaka1-0-4-2
- Kasun Rajitha4-0-22-2
On that note, we bounce. On behalf of Ashish Pant and Thilak Rama, I say goodbye. So long.
11pm We are back for the post-match presentation.
Hardik Pandya, the losing captain, says, and I paraphrase: "In bowling and batting, the powerplay hurt us. We made some basic errors, which we shouldn't be making at this level. Everyone knows what it is, The learning for us is we should be focussing on what we can control. You can have a good day, you can have a bad day, but you shouldn't be moving away from the basics. For Arshdeep, in this situation, it is very difficult. It is not about blaming him or to be too hard on him, but we know no-balls in any format is a crime. Rahul is accustomed to playing at no. 3, and someone coming in, we want to give them a role they are comfortable with. That's why he batted at No. 3."
Dasun Shanaka, the winning captain and the Player of the Match, says, and I paraphrase: "To be honest, we would have done better in the middle part because the openers set us up well. Surya and Axar were outstanding, but still we managed to hold our nerve. It's good to defend a total like this especially against India in Indian conditions."
10.42pm This is the thing about getting close. Now those seven no-balls stare you right in your face. India were gone for all money at 57 for 5, but Axar, Surya and Mavi brought them close. Not close enough.
The story of the day remains the no-balls. Arshdeep, on his comeback, bowled three in a row in his first over. Then bowled two more. One of them could have been a wicket. There were two more. It is one of those freakish things that caught on like a flu.
Shanka scored 56 off 22, then took two wickets in the final over. Will surely be the Player of the Match. Or will it be Axar: 2 for 24 and 65 off 31?
Shivam Mavi c Theekshana b Shanaka 26 (24m 15b 2x4 2x6) SR: 173.33