Rajitha, Shanaka help Sri Lanka beat India by 5 wickets

Rajitha, Shanaka help Sri Lanka beat India by 5 wickets

Published Feb. 9, 2016 1:06 p.m. ET
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PUNE, India (AP) Rookie seam bowlers Kasun Rajitha and Dasun Shanaka played havoc on a lively pitch as Sri Lanka scored a five-wicket win over India in the first Twenty20 international to take a 1-0 lead in the three-game series.

Debutant Rajitha triggered an early collapse grabbing 3-29 while Shanaka ripped through the middle order taking 3-16 in only his second T20 to help bowl out India for a meager 101 in 18.5 overs.

Reigning World Twenty20 champion Sri Lanka scored in 105-5 in 18 overs, captain Dinesh Chandimal top-scoring with 35 to lead the team to victory.

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India, which on Jan. 31 completed a bilateral T20 series 3-0 in Australia, struck two early blows through Ashish Nehra but it was not enough. The second game is on Friday, the third on Sunday.

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