In the second Twenty20 International, Axar Patel hit Wanindu Hasaranga for three consecutive sixes

India appeared to have a fantastic chance to defeat Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 International that was played on Thursday. This was mostly due to the blistering runs that were played by Axar Patel (65 off 31 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (51 off 36 balls).

India had a goal of 207 runs, and they were at 57/5 after 9.1 overs when Axar and Suryakumar put up a 91-run partnership.

After Surya was out of the game in the 16th over, the task became significantly more difficult; nevertheless, Axar and Shivam Mavi (26 off 15) put up quick 41 runs to bring the equation down to 21 runs off the final over. But the fact that Axar was taken out on the third ball of the final over meant that the match was already over.

Earlier, Suryakumar and Axar tried to boost the ante with a remarkable 91-run sixth-wicket stand off of just 40 balls. Their goal was to keep India afloat after they got off to a disastrous start.

In the 13th over, Axar took particular vengeance on the off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana, clobbering the bowler for a four and a six over long-on.

Not only Theekshana, but also Wanindu Hasaranga was forced to take the full force of Axar’s aggression in the 14th over as the left-hander hit the bowler for a hat trick of sixes. Axar’s aggression was not limited to just Theekshana.

Axar hit a six over long-off off Karunaratne to bring up his first fifty, which he accomplished off of just 20 balls. Surya continued the trend by scoring another fifty, this time with a six over square leg off Madhushanaka.

The pair raised hopes of a memorable triumph, but it was not to be as the visitors pulled the strings just in time to even out the series.

Earlier, the captain of Sri Lanka’s cricket team, Dasun Shanaka, scored a rearguard unbeaten 56 off of 22 balls, while wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis hit a 52 off of 31 balls to lead Sri Lanka to an impressive 206 for 6.

As the Sri Lankan hitters had a good time, the bowlers Shivam Mavi (4-0-53-0), Arshdeep Singh (2-0-37-0), and Umran Malik (4-0-48-3) were to blame for throwing an excessive number of loose deliveries.

While attempting to chase the total, India suffered the loss of its openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill to Kasun Rajitha in the second over. As if that wasn’t bad enough, rookie Rahul Tripathi gave one to Kusal Mendis off Dilshan Madhushanaka in the next over, and then India’s skipper Hardik Pandya went out of the game an over later, bringing the score to 34 for 4 after 4.4 overs.

Deepak Hooda was the fifth player to be dismissed from the match. After that, Suryakumar and Axar batted hard, but India could only get 190 runs in 20 overs despite their efforts.