In the ongoing Nidahas Trophy 2018 T20I Series, India stood tall to dictate the proceedings against Sri Lanka after an astounding show at the R Premadasa stadium. It was all to savor for Rohit Sharma’s men after pacer Shardul Thakur inspired the side to help them come out on top.
India beat the Lankans by six wickets in the fourth match of the tri-nation series to hand the latter their second successive loss. Thakur’s brilliance with the ball made the difference as Manish Pandey (42*) and  Dinesh Karthik (39*) steered the side home chasing 153 runs.
Thakur’s impressive career-beest 4/27 was the highlight of the night as he is quickly showing the attributes he possesses and that he has the ammunitions in the armoury.
That's game set and match for #TeamIndia as they wrap up their 3rd T20I with a 6-wicket win. Brilliant team effort on display. pic.twitter.com/BC5WErTtGE
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 12, 2018
In a rain-reduced 19-overs-a-side game, India showed they did not hiccup as they moved closer to the tri-nation finale.
India get past the line
This wasn’t another Shikhar Dhawan inspired show, but a work of India’s middle-order as the men in blue, defined their prowess as a T20I team.
Chasing 153, Rohit Sharma started off with a big six and a four off Suranga Lakmal but spinner Akila Dananjaya broke his wickets drought when the Indian skipper danced down the track and mistimed a flighted ball straight to mid-wicket.
Sri Lanka then received a significant boost when in-form southpaw Shikhar Dhawan, who had smashed 90 and 55 in the first two games, went for eight as he miscued a flick to mid-on.
Veteran star Suresh Raina, looked in great touch after smashing two fours and a six off Dushmantha Chameera. The left-hander hammered yet another six off Nuwan Pradeep but in the quest for aggression, he slapped a flat-batted pull straight to mid-off next ball to fall for 27. His blitz was a platform India could build on.
KL Rahul joined Pandey and the duo kept pace with the required rate. In the 10th over though, Rahul (18) created unwanted history as he became the first Indian and 10th batsman overall to be out hit wicket. At 85/4 and still needing 68 to win off 60 balls, the situation was tricky but Pandey and Karthik calmed the nerves.
The duo’s adaptability and presence of mind during a tricky middle period, made a vital difference as they kept the scoreboard ticking and hit some lustful strokes in the end.
Thakur shows he belongs in the top level
Thakur ran through the tail and was unlucky to miss a hat-trick off the last ball of the innings. Mendis’ effort and his 62-run partnership with Upul Tharanga were the only positives in a Sri Lanka batting that failed to click. After Mendis was dismissed while set, Sri Lanka failed to get to the desired total.
India will now take on Bangladesh in their final league game on Wednesday and a win for Rohit’s side will assure them of a spot in the final.
Brief Scores: India 153 for 4 (Pandey 42*, Karthik 39*, Dananjaya 2-19) beat Sri Lanka152 for 9 (Kusal Mendis 55, Thakur 4-27) by six wickets