December 10, 2009:
Sri Lanka secured a decisive 29-run win over India in the first Tweny-20 encounter yesterday.
The game, played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur, saw Sri Lankan skipper Kumar Sangakkara walking away with the Man of the Match award.Lankans got off to a promising start with an opening stand of 43 runs between T. M. Dilshan and Sanath Jayasuriya.
Sanath was the first to go, dismissed for 26 runs. Kumar Sangakkara went on to score his 11th Twenty-20 half century in just 21 balls.
T. M. Dilshan was dismissed for 34 runs a short while later as he was undone by a superb Rohit Sharma delivery.
Mahela Jayawardene didn't last long as he was undone for 9 runs.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera then went on to put on a 69 run stand for the 4th wicket which steadied the Sri Lankan innings.
Kapugedera,who managed to score 47 runs was eventually dismissed by Ashish Nehera.
Skipper Sangakkara top scored with 78 runs to guide the Sri Lankans to a score of 215 runs in their 20 overs.
India, who commenced their reply also got off to a flying start but lost opener Virendra Shewag for 26 runs off the bowling of Nuwan Kulasekera.
Gautham Gambhir, however, steadied the Indian innings scoring his 13th 20/20 half century which included 10 boundaries.
However, Gambhir was the next wicket to fall as he was undone for 55 runs by Angelo Mathews.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell shortly after at the hands of Muthumudalige Pushpakumara for 9 runs.
Yuvraj Singh fell a short while later for six runs giving Angelo Mathews his second wicket of the day.
Debutant Pushpakumara also bagged his second wicket dismissing Suresh Raina for 21 runs.
The Indians were eventually restricted to 186 runs in their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka currently lead the two-match series 1-nil.