India and Sri Lanka are taking on each other in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday (3 January). Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and invited India to bat first. Meanwhile, India got off to a flying start as Ishan Kishan smashed 17 runs off the first over, Shubman Gill also made a good start as he opened his account with a boundary. However, Sri Lanka soon made a comeback as Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Gill.
Suryakumar Yadav too could not last long as he handed a dolly to the short fine-leg fielder while attempting a scoop shot against Chamika Karunaratne. With Gill and Yadav gone, Samson walked out to bat. However, he was finding it hard to time the ball as chipped a delivery from Theekshana in the air. Charith Asalanka, meanwhile, made a full-stretch dive to get a hold of the ball.
Asalanka almost reached the ball and it seemed Samson’s stay at the crease would be cut short. But the on-field umpire was not convinced and asked the third umpire who adjudged the batter not out as the ball had bounced before the fielder. Although Asalanka could not hold on to the catch, his effort was praiseworthy.
Coming to Sanju Samson’s inning, the wicketkeeper batter wasted his much-awaited opportunity as he holed out one delivery from Theekshana in the same over he got a reprieve. The batter could only score 5 runs off 6 balls during his stay at the crease.
