Live Cricket Score - Sri Lanka vs India, Match 4, Nidahas Trophy 2018

All too easy!

In the end, it happened all too comfortably for India. Despite a stuttered start, India coasted rather easily to the 153-run target, paved way by a half-century partnership between Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey. The visitors won by six wickets to move to the top of the points table. After the openers departed, there was hardly any struggle for the batsmen. On a good wicket with a modest total to chase down, India didn't panic and made good use of the conditions on offer.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will have serious issues to address. Their unidimensional approach may work in one-off games but it would need a slight smartness if they need results going their way on a more consistent basis.

Slow and steady, winning the race

Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik have done well to avoid any damage in the middle overs. Unlike Sri Lanka, India have evaded the middle order collapse. They didn't take too many risks and stitched a 50-run stand in only 37 balls. They now need just over run-a-ball in the last three overs.

Smart and steady

Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey are playing with a lot of caution. They have minimised risks but scored at a decent pace without allowing Sri Lanka to get on top. They are busy in the middle taking singles and scoring the odd boundaries. The game, for now, looks well in India's favour.

Rahul self destructs

KL Rahul had just survived a close run-out call with the bat just on the line, promopting the third umpire to say, "I'm going to give the benefit of doubt (to the batsman)." However, Rahul brought about his own dismissal with a hit wicket off the next ball. Fourth wicket down for India, but they still looked well placed. Jeevan Mendis, the bowler, gets a wicket credited against his name.

Raina falls

Suresh Raina's breezy knock comes to an end he fails to make adequate room for his flat-batted slap. He hits it straight to Thisara Perera. A useful innings. 27 runs from 15 balls.

A strategy gone wrong

Dushmantha Chameera began well but he became too predictable as the overs continued. He looked to trouble Suresh Raina with a barrage of bouncers, but instead got hit for a boundary and too sixes. In the process, Raina has got moving.

Double blow

Akila Dananjaya strikes again! This time, it is the in-form Shikhar Dhawan who top edges and Thisara Perera does well to catch the ball. Both the openers have departed. The target isn't massive but the double blow has put them in some trouble.

Rohit's poor run continues

It's quite unlike for Rohit Sharma to get going right from the start, but he does. However, his decision to step out and hit Akila Dananjaya doesn't pay off. Mid wicket gets an easy catch and he has to walk back. His poor run in the tournament continues.

Quick start

A boundary and a six. Rohit Sharma wasted little time to get India's chase going. The visitors are off to brisk start. Can India chase down the total?

A disappointing finish

 Sri Lanka lost a flurry of wickets in the second half of their innings to finish on 152 for 9 in 19 overs. Given the kind of start they had, they would be mighty disappointed with the eventual score. The last eight overs yielded only 44 runs for six wickets. Shardul Thakur bagged two wickets in the final over to finish with figures of 4 for 27 from four overs.

The pitch seems good for batting and India would be happy chasing this.

Big blow

Chahal joins the party too. Wickets were falling all around Kusal Mendis, and this time it is Mendis himself who departs after scoring a fine half-century. Big blow for Sri Lanka.

Wickets tumble, India pull back initiative

Wickets are tumbling way too quickly for Sri Lanka's liking. Washington Sundar, who has returned for his final spell strikes right away, dismissing Jeevan Mendis. Kusal Mendis has only become a spectator to the procession of his batting partners heading back. Dasun Shanaka, the last of the recognised batsman has come out to bat. India have pulled back a bit of the initiative with these wickets. Can Sri Lanka continue to score as briskly as they have doing all along?

Short and sweet

Thisara Perera's stay had a lot of action but it ended short. Looking to hit Yuzvendra Chahal out of the park, he holes out to Shardul Thakur, who takes a good catch at deep extra cover.

Strike 3

And, Vijay Shankar has got India the breakthrough. Upal Tharanga's painful stay at the crease has come to an end. Looking to play another big shot, he has been castled. His 45-ball stand for the third wicket with Kusal Mendis yielded 62 runs for the side.

50 stand

The Indian bowlers are having a tough time here. All of them. Kusal Mendis and Upal Tharanga have brought up their half-century stand in only 37 balls, and set a wonderful platform. Sri Lanka have to ensure they don't lose this initiative.

On the move

Upal Tharnaga, who has been hitting a few big shots in this series, was a little quiet to begin with. But he gets going with a superb slog sweep over the deep mid wiccket region. Yuzvendra Chahal isn't having it easy today. He has conceded 27 runs from two overs today.

Mendis' fine show continues

Kusal Mendis continues to repay the faith on him by the team management. Despite two early wickets, he has ensured the run rate hasn't dropped and has helped Sri Lanka bring up their 50 in the sixth over. Sri Lanka have amassed 53 runs in the powerplay. A good start but it remains to be seen how much would the dismissal of the two big-hitters affect them going ahead in the innings.

The big blow

Okay, Shardul Thakur can breathe a sigh of relief! Washinton Sundar has done the job for him. Kusal Perera attempted the reverse sweep and instead played it on to the stumps. Big blow for Sri Lanka. The man in form, the man with two fifties in two games, has departed.