Shreyas Iyer powers India to series win against Sri Lanka

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India’s captain Rohit Sharma, right, tosses as Sri Lanka’s captain Dasun Shanaka watches at the start of second Twenty20 international cricket match in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

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India’s Ravindra Jadeja reacts after hitting wining shot against Sri Lanka during the second Twenty20 international cricket match in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

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Sri Lankan players congratulates India’s avindra Jadeja after India won the second Twenty20 international cricket match in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

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India’s Ravindra Jadeja, behind, with his teammate Shreyas Iyer leave after wining the second Twenty20 international cricket match against Sri Lanka, in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

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India’s Ravindra Jadeja bats during the second Twenty20 international cricket match between India and Sri Lanka, in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

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Indian cricket team warms up before the start of second Twenty20 international cricket match in Dharmsala, India, Saturday, Feb. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashwini Bhatia)

DHARAMSALA, India (AP) — Shreyas Iyer smashed an unbeaten 74 off 44 balls as India beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in the second Twenty20 at Dharamsala on Saturday to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

Iyer put on 84 runs off 47 balls with Sanju Samson (39) for the third wicket as India finished with 186-3 in 17.1 overs in reply to Sri Lanka’s 183-5 after the hosts won the toss and chose to field.

India lost Rohit Sharma (1) early on in its chase. Lahiru Kumara (2-31) troubled Ishan Kishan (16) with some fiery pace before dismissing him.

India was 44-2 in 5.1 overs when Iyer and Samson came together. Their 50-partnership came off 37 balls.

Iyer reached his second consecutive T20 half-century off 30 balls. He had scored 57 not out off 28 balls in the first game in Lucknow.

“We gave away a few extra runs but I don’t want to be too harsh on the bowlers. We restricted them in the first 15 overs,” India captain Rohit Sharma said. “The middle order coming out and performing is good to see. It is vital for those guys to take the responsibility and finish off games. We lost a couple of wickets but we wanted someone to stay till the end. Shreyas (Iyer) did that for us.”

Overall, Iyer struck six fours and four sixes. At the other end, Samson hit two fours and three sixes as India took 28 runs off three overs immediately after the halfway stage.

Samson fell against the run of play with Binura Fernando taking a one-handed stunner at slip.

Ravindra Jadeja then came to the crease and didn’t let up the scoring pressure. He put on 58 runs off only 26 balls with Iyer as India coasted to victory.

Jadeja scored 45 not out off only 18 balls, including seven fours and a six as India won with 17 balls to spare.

Earlier, Sri Lanka made a slow start to their innings but Pathum Nissanka and Danuskha Gunathilaka (38) made up the scoring rate as they put on 67 for the first wicket.

Nissanka scored 75 off 53 balls, including 11 fours, his sixth T20 half-century. He anchored the Sri Lanka innings, which suffered a middle-order collapse.

Yuzvendra Chahal (1-27), Ravindra Jadeja (1-37) and Harshal Patel (1-52) took a wicket apiece as Sri Lanka was reduced to 102-4 in 14.4 overs.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka then smacked 47 not out off 19 balls including two fours and five sixes.

The visitors plundered 72 runs off the last four overs but their competitive total didn’t prove enough on the day.

The third and final T20 will also be played in Dharamsala on Sunday. The Himalayan town has witnessed steady rainfall over the past few days.

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