Live Cricket Score: India vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20, Colombo, Nidahas Trophy 2018

That concludes the opening encounter of this All-Asian Triangular T20I series. The hosts began on the right note, getting the better of their Asian neighbors. Next up, Bangladesh and India face each other at the same venue. That clash is on International Women's Day. See you at 1900 local time (1330 GMT) then. Till then, take care! Adios amigos!

Dinesh Chandimal, the glee-looking captain, is elated to win against India after 7 games. Says that this is a good start for the tourney and the signs of things to come from them. Adds about taking this confidence going forward. About having a spring in his step in the game, he plays it down saying that the entire team gelled well and that made it easier for him. Praises their coach as well as the management for this win. After the chat, he goes on to take the match winner's trophy from the presentation panel.

Rohit Sharma, the glum-faced skipper, states that they ended up with a par score and something that was enough to play with. Adds that some more acceleration was desirable towards the end with the bat. Concedes that the start that Sri Lanka got was instrumental in them gunning this total down. Reckons that sometimes things can go wrong and sounds hopeful of his boys learning from this outing. Mentions of having enough experience in their bowling line-up. He states that although the international experience is less, their bowlers are pretty well-exposed to the format and hence the management backs them to do the task. Iterates about having a good depth in the side. Ends vowing to come back stronger in the next games.

The Man of the Match tonight is Kusal Perera for his belligerent knock. He begins by stating that this was his best innings. Reckons that after injuring himself, he went and played at the club level and got himself ready to the rigors of international cricket. Ends saying that the target was a stiff one but they were confident of chasing this down.

The Indian bowling came cropper tonight. Apart from the most-economical-of-the-lot Washington Sundar, who picked up a couple of wickets, the others disappeared to all parts of the ground. Yuzvendra Chahal also had two to his name, but he was a tad too expensive. That Shardul Thakur over of 27 runs was perhaps signs of things to come for the Indians tonight. That meant that Shikhar Dhawan's 90 went in vain. Let's see what the captains and the player of the match have to say...

The others just had to chip in to mark their attendance after the 58-run partnership between Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka. The final rites were done by the twin all-rounder pair of Thisara Perera and Dasun Shanaka. They quelled any hopes of an Indian win in the series opener.

The hosts were on the money right from the outset. Their initial burst of 75 runs in the first 6 overs, their best in a T20I, helped them steamroll the opponents. Kusal Perera had the lion's share in the exploits. He smashed a quickfire 66 and that set the platform for them. They never looked back from that.

Sri Lanka, for a change, have got the better of the Indians in an international game! Yes, these words are rare to see. What stamps the odd nature of win is this - this is the first time India have lost a T20I against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

18.3: S Thakur to T Perera, FOUR! Those are the winning runs! Thisara Perera's blade brings them. This is short in length, Perera pulls it through backward square leg. The ball speeds away to the fence, beating square leg to his left and fine leg to his right. SRI LANKA REGISTER THE FIRST WIN IN THE TRI-SERIES, A 5-WICKET WIN WITH 9 BALLS TO SPARE!

18.2: S Thakur to T Perera, Short in length, pulled away through mid-wicket for a brace. Just one hit away are the hosts from a win.

18.1: S Thakur to D Shanaka, Full outside off, driven through covers for one.

18.1: S Thakur to D Shanaka, WIDE! This is sprayed down the leg side, Shanaka misses the flick.

Shardul Thakur to bowl the penultimate over. Will he be able to take the game to the last over?

17.6: J Unadkat to T Perera, FOUR! 10 runs off the last two balls and that should seal the deal for Sri Lanka. This is a low full toss on the stumps, Perera thumps it straight over the non-striker and holds the pose. The ball bounces just in front of the ropes and that brings down the runs required to 8 off the last two overs.

17.5: J Unadkat to T Perera, SIX! Telling blow? Full on off, Perera gets his front leg out of the way and smites it straight over long off. The ball clears the fence easily. Sri Lankans needed just one big over and this is the one it seems.

17.5: J Unadkat to T Perera, WIDE! Full and well outside off, Perera fails to reach that. The umpire stretches his arms, that doesn't please the bowler one bit.

17.4: J Unadkat to D Shanaka, Another length ball, Shanaka comes down the track but fails to get bat on his attempted pull. The ball goes off his hips to the off side for a leg bye.

17.3: J Unadkat to D Shanaka, On a length on the stumps, Dasun misses his attempted pull.

17.2: J Unadkat to D Shanaka, FOUR! Shanaka belts this one! Length ball at a normal pace this time. Shanaka backs away and flat-bats it over covers for a boundary. Crucial one, as more 20 runs are needed off 16 balls.

17.1: J Unadkat to D Shanaka, Unadkat comes from round the wicket and delivers a slow length ball. Dasun makes room to slash it but is deceived by the change of pace.

Jaydev Unadkat to bowl his third over.

16.6: V Shankar to D Shanaka, Length ball, flat-batted aerially to long off for a single. Shankar has bowled well here, 4 couples and a couple of singles, apart from a wide.

16.5: V Shankar to D Shanaka, Short and wide outside off, slashed over point for another two.

16.4: V Shankar to D Shanaka, Full and outside off, Shanaka slices it over backward point for a brace.

16.3: V Shankar to D Shanaka, BEAMER! NOT A NO BALL, STRANGELY! Shanaka heaves it towards fine leg for a couple. All eyes are on the umpires but no signal from them. Lucky Shankar?

16.3: V Shankar to D Shanaka, WIDE! This is full and outside off, Shanaka doesn't bother playing at that.

16.2: V Shankar to T Perera, Full in length, Perera gets it off the bottom half of the blade over the bowler for one.

16.1: V Shankar to T Perera, Trisection! Shankar runs in from round the wicket and hurls it full outside off, Perera looks to go over covers but ends up slicing it. Chahal runs back from covers, long off runs to his right and sweeper comes a bit to his left. But the ball lands in the centre of them and enables a brace.

Vijay Shankar to bowl the 17th over. Right call? Our colleague here, Parth, doesn't seem to agree.

15.6: S Thakur to D Shanaka, Excellent over from Thakur comes to an end as just 3 came off this. This is banged short yet again, Shanaka is unable to slash it. 35 from 24 needed. The Lankans are 6 runs ahead than where India were at this point.

15.5: S Thakur to T Perera, This ball is pushed through mid-wicket for one.

15.4: S Thakur to D Shanaka, Back of a length delivery again, Shanaka plays this a la a forehand shot in tennis. Seems to have got it off the toe end towards long on for one. Shanaka seems to be hurt, as he seems to crouch after taking that run.

15.3: S Thakur to D Shanaka, OUCH! That would have hurt. Thakur hurls a short length ball on the stumps, Dasun fails to pull that and gets hit on the hip.

15.2: S Thakur to D Shanaka, Length ball outside off, pushed towards covers for nothing.

15.1: S Thakur to T Perera, Short in length, Perera pulls it through mid-wicket for one.

14.6: Y Chahal to T Perera, Thisara opens his account with a punch through covers.

14.5: Y Chahal to T Perera, Floated on the stumps, defended off the front foot.

Thisara Perera is the next batter in for Sri Lanka. Though the card says 39 off 32 required, with two new batsmen in the middle, it could be anybody's game. A slip in place now.

14.4: Y Chahal to U Tharanga, OUT! Woodwork! This is flatter on a length around off, Tharanga hangs on the back foot and looks to heave it over the on side. Ends up missing the ball and finds his off stump pegged back. Chahal has this wonderful character of striking when the attack is on him. Does exactly the same now.

14.3: Y Chahal to D Shanaka, Flighted ball on the stumps, wristed to the on side for one.

14.2: Y Chahal to U Tharanga, This time a lofted shot over mid-wicket is played for a single.

14.1: Y Chahal to U Tharanga, Wrong 'un outside off on a shorter length, Upul cuts it in front of point for a brace.

Yuzvendra Chahal is back.

13.6: S Thakur to U Tharanga, Length ball on the pads, Tharanga fails to get bat and the ball falls down after striking him on the pads. Shanaka calls him through for a single and makes it. A leg bye it is. Meanwhile, a funny thing happens. Karthik expects a kick from Thakur while the bowler expects the keeper to bend and collect it. Neither does anything and that takes Dinesh by surprise.

13.5: S Thakur to U Tharanga, CHANCE DOWN! Rishabh Pant, the name which is associated with this one. This is short in length, Tharanga is hurried into the pull. Ends up getting it off the high end of the bat towards mid-wicket. Pant leaps full stretch to his right and gets a hand to it but fails to hold on. The ball rolls towards long on and a couple of runs are taken. Perhaps another fielder with a taller height could have done better.