Colombo: Sri Lanka won the first match by 5 wickets against India with 9 balls remaining in the Tri-nation T20 series here on Tuesday.Kusal Perara smashed 66 off 37 balls while Thisara Perera unbeaten hit 22 off 10 balls snatching victory from India. Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to field first.
India batted and scored 174 runs in the allotted 20 overs, but Sri Lanka managed to reach the target scoring 175 runs in 18.3 overs after losing 5 wickets.For Sri Lanka Kusal Perara smashed 66 off 37 balls hitting 6 fours and 4 sixes. In T20 this was Kusal's seventh half century.Kusal along with Danushka Gunathilaka (19) for the second wicket added useful 58 run partnership.
Gunathilaka 19 came off in 12 balls hitting one foue and two sixes. Skipper Chandimal 14, Upul Tharanga 17, Shanaka not out 15, and Thisara Perera unbeaten hit 22 off 10 balls. Hosts Sri Lanka needed 24 runs in the last three overs and in the 18th overs with 2 fours and a six they scored 16 runs and won against India. For India Chahal and Washington Sundar claimed two wickets each while Jaydev Unadkat took one wicket.(UNI)