Suryakumar Yadav started life as captain of the Indian T20 team with a wonderful half-century as we thumped Sri Lanka by 43 runs in the first T20I at Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.

Batting first, Aapla Dada Surya showed us that captaincy has not changed the way he bats as he top-scored for India (58 off 26 balls) and along with Rishabh Pant (49) took the team to 213/7.

In response, Sri Lanka looked on course, thanks to Pathum Nissanka (79), but the Men in Blue fought back valiantly to restrict the Lankans to 170 with Riyan Parag (3/5) and Arshdeep Singh (2/24) being the wreckers-in-chief.

Here is a look at key highlights of how the first match unfolded.

Jaiswal and Gill’s ‘power’play

Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill dominated the powerplay with their unbelievable shot-making as the fielders turned into mere spectators. It was a thrill-a-minute batting display as India raced to 74/1.

In walks SKY

SKY walked in as the openers departed off consecutive deliveries. He has been there and he has seen it. A walk outside off stump and a lift over fine leg for starters. Two more fours in the next two balls from SKY’s blade followed as we breezed past the 100-run mark in the ninth over.

Aapla Dada Surya owned the middle overs as he took the Sri Lanka bowlers to the cleaners. SKY brought up his fifty in just 22 balls and the bowlers breathed a sigh of relief as the blitzkrieg ended with eight fours and two sixes. But the damage was already done.

‘Pant’astic finish

Pant, after a slow start, provided the final flourish with his trademark helicopter and the falling pull shot all coming through. India finished at 213/7, their highest T20I total in Sri Lanka, as Matheesha Pathirana finished with figures of 4/40.

Arshdeep strikes

Sri Lanka was off to a good start reaching 77/0 after eight overs as the Indian faithful got to the edge of their seats. Captain SKY brought back Arshdeep and the move paid rich dividends. Kusal Mendis was dismissed after a good start.

What a fightback

Axar Patel brought us straight back into the match with a double blow as Sri Lanka slipped from 140/1 to 149/3.

14.1 overs: castles Pathum Nissanka with a beauty

14.6 overs: Kusal Perera holes out in the deep

It was just a matter of time for Sri Lanka as our bowlers triggered an incredible collapse dismissing the opposition for 170. No batter apart from the top-three crossed the 15-run mark as the last nine wickets fell for just 30 runs with Riyan Parag cleaning up the tail.

We will look to carry our winning momentum into the next game against the Lankans scheduled on Sunday, July 28 at the same venue at 7 PM IST.

Brief scores: India 213/7 (Suryakumar Yadav 58, Rishabh Pant 49, Matheesha Pathirana 4/40, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/28) BEAT Sri Lanka 170/10 (Pathum Nissanka 79, Kusal Mendis 45, Riyan Parag 3/5, Arshdeep Singh 2/24) by 43 runs.