Yuvi celebrates birthday in style as India level series
Birthday boy Yuvraj Singh excelled with both bat and ball to steer India to a series-leveling six-wicket victory against Sri Lanka in the second Twenty20 International at Mohali on December 12. Chasing a huge target of 207 for victory, India knocked off the runs losing four wickets and with five deliveries to spare. This was the highest ever successful run chase in the history of T20Is.
Building on a great start provided by Virender Sehwag who scored 64 off 36 balls, skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Yuvraj ensured that the asking rate never went past reasonable limits. Dhoni was disappointed not to stay till the end when he was dismissed by Dilhara Fernando for 46 off 28 balls. However, Yuvraj was in sublime form to remain unbeaten on 60 off only 25 deliveries that included five superb sixes. Fernando and Lasith Malinga took one wicket apiece for 29 and 28 respectively but the other bowlers went for plenty. The Sri Lankans also fielded much below their standard missing several run-out and catching chances.
Indians fielded even worse than the first match by dropping at least six catches, three of them off Yousuf Pathan’s bowling only. Skipper Kumar Sangakkara maintained his fine form by scoring 59 off 31 balls. Useful contributions were also made by Jayasinghe (38), Sanath Jayasuriya (31) and Angelo Mathews (26 not out). Ashish Nehra was expensive again but Ishant Sharma bowled well to take 2 for 42. But it was Yuvraj who took 3 for 23 and he was well supported by Pathan who claimed a solitary wicket for 29.
Yuvraj was named Man of the Match while the Man of the Series award went to Sangakkara.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 206 for 7 (Sangakkara 59, Jayasinghe 38, Jayasuriya 31; Yuvraj 3/23, Ishant 2/42); India 211 for 4 (Sehwag 64, Yuvraj 60*, Dhoni 46). India won by 6 wickets.
