“It was my best knock,” says Kusal Perera at the presentation ceremony. Rohit Sharma says that he thought 174 was a par score but also says that the batsmen could have accelerated a bit more towards the back end of the innings.

“We are happy to play some competitive cricket. It gives us huge confidence going forward and thanks to the management. The boys have done a good job,” says Dinesh Chandimal.

Sri Lanka reach home with nine balls to spare. It was en emphatic way to celebrate 70 years of freedom, with a full house cheering them on in their one-time cauldron. Kusal Perera hurt India during the Champions Trophy and if he had any doubters about his big-hitting abilities, those apprehensions were well and truly put to bed by a cracking 37-ball 66. India may have been a bowler short, as I’d mentioned earlier.

Manish Pandey and Rishabh Pant endured a frustrating time in the middle and could have ended up costing their side 20 runs between them. With all teams facing each other twice before the final, India need to bounce back quickly. There were encouraging signs for Rohit Sharma’s men: Shardul Thakur showed tremendous spirit after being picked apart from Kusal Perera, Washington Sundar continues to show maturity beyond his years, and Dhawan continues to prove that he is a world-class exponent of the white-ball. Until next time, kind folks.

Sri Lanka win by 5 wickets! Thakur is handed the ball and he starts with a wide. Then comes a full one, and the Lankans run two as Perera flicks to the deep mid-wicket fence. Perera also hits the winning runs by directing a short delivery to the fine-leg boundary. Huge roar from the crowd as the Lankans finally manage to earn a well-deserved win against India on their soil.

End of over 18: SL 167/5 Shanka breaks his shackles by cutting a short, slow delivery over the off-side and it’s a welcome boundary for the Sri Lankans. Unadkat continues to beat the batsman from length but Thisara Perera’s may have sealed the contest. Slightly full from the left-armer and Perera swings it over long-off for a six. The last delivery is a full-toss, which is smashed down the ground for a four. Party over, India. Eight needed from the last two as 16 comes of the over.

End of over 17: SL 151/5 With the pressure mounting, Thisara Perera goes for a long hop and the ball just about managed to land safely between two fielders at deep extra-cover.

Big let off for India as an above waist-high full-toss from Vijay Shankar is not called no-ball from the umpire. The replays shows that it was a few inches above Shanaka’s waist. Despite not getting a boundary, the Lankans get 11 from the over. Will the no-ball/free hit separate the two teams at the end of the game?

End of over 16: SL 140/5 Thakur to continue and it’s tidy stuff to start with by the Mumbai pacer. Shanaka struggles to get off strike. Single from the fourth and fifth deliveries. Thakur finishes his over with a cracking bouncer as India continue to slowly crawl back in the contest. Another economical over as just three come from it.

End of over 15: SL 137/5 Thisara Perera gets off the mark as Chahal misfields off his own bowling. Sri Lanka need 38 from the last five overs.

Over 14.4: SL 136/5 The batsmen are throwing their bat at everything but a wicket here would hand the initiative back to the batsmen...just as I say that Tharanga misses his sweep shot and the ball clips his off-stump. Boy, didn’t Chahal love that one. India well and truly are back in the contest.

End of over 14: SL 132/4 Solid comeback from Thakur, who was made to look quite ordinary by Perera earlier. Two dots and a single from the first three balls. Full and straight and Shanaka gets his first run.

Drop catch. Pull from Tharanga and the ball rushes onto him. Pant’s despairing dive sees him get a hand to that, but can’t hold onto it. The batsmen scamper through for a single from the last ball. Another good over for India as just four come off it.

End of over 13: SL 127/4 India have got their man! The damage may have already been done and it is Washington Sundar who does the trick by extracting a hint of turn, which allows the ball to move away from the batsman and Karthik quickly takes off the bails. What a knock. Shanaka can’t get off strike and the teenager gives away just a solitary run and picks up a wicket in his final over. Has the pendulum swung India’s way.

K Perera st Karthik b Washington Sundar 66 (37)

End of over 12: SL 126/3 Switch-hit six! Raina now gets a taste of Perera’s red-hot blade and the ball harmlessly falls over the third man region. Three singles taken of the following deliveries by the batsmen. Tharanga lofts the final delivery over cover and runs a couple. 12 from it and the Lankans are on course. The equation is now 49 needed from 38 balls.

End of over 11: SL 114/3 Chahal loses his line slightly and is punished by Perera, who sweeps one to the fine-leg region for a boundary. He then rotates strike. Tharanga, who had played out five dot balls till then, slog sweeps Chahal for a huge six over cow cover and a misfield at cover helps him take a single of the last ball. Yet another expensive over from Chahal.

End of over 10: SL 101/3 Raina is introduced into the attack and it’s neat stuff from the veteran. Just a single and two dot balls from the first two. Even Perera shows respect and is happy to get off strike. Would you believe it? Just three from it.

End of over 9: SL 98/3 No luck for Chahal as Chandimal flat-bats him down the ground and all the way to the boundary. More frustration for India on the field as the Sri Lankan skipper is happy to manipulate the fielders....just as I say that, the leg-spinner cleans him up with a quicker one, which came from the back of his hand. Much needed breakthrough for India.

End of over 8: SL 92/2 Vijay Shankar is given the ball for the first time in international cricket. Kusal Perera continues to evoke the inevitable Jayasuriya comparisons with his bat swing. No boundaries here as just four from the over as the all-rounder bowled to field and varied his deliveries.

Tell me about it:

End of over 7: SL 88/2 Chahal is brought on and Perera treats him by stepping out and muscling the ball over the sightscreen for his second six. Sloppy work from Vijay Shankar on the field allows the Lankans to sneak a couple and the bowler is not impressed. Chandimal finishes the over by steering the ball behind point and completing a brace. Another good over for the hosts, 13 from it.

End of over 6: SL 75/2 Sundar comes in to bowl his third over. This time, the youngster bowls a tidy over and it was down to him offering more flight and mixing it up with skiddy, quick deliveries. Just five from it, India’s most economical one so far. Rohit Sharma held a huge pep talk after Gunathilaka’s dismissal. Suddenly, his side have come out with a little more intent.

End of over 5: SL 70/2 It’s hard to keep up as the batsmen bring up their fifty partnership, and it has taken them a staggering 19 balls! Gunathilaka says he is not going to be left behind as he pounds a full delivery over the long-on fence for another six. Undakat makes a good comeback with a short delivery that spat off length. But he went for another boundary as Gunathilaka shuffled across the stumps to loft one to the vacant fine-leg fence.

And....relief for India as the opener is beaten with a slow ball. He doesn’t get the elevation on this one and it’s a simple catch to Pant at mid-off. Still, 14 from the over and one more powerplay over left.

Gunathilaka c Pant b Unadkat 19 (12)

End of over 4: SL 56/1 Some calm after the storm as Washington Sundar gets another over. Just four singles from the first four balls as Sri Lanka get to their fifty, it has taken them just 22 balls. Just when India had an encouraging over, Gunathilaka takes the bowler to the cleaners with another six, an old fashioned slog towards the leg side.

End of over 3: SL 46/1 Mayhem! Shardul Thakur now comes into the attack and he is punished with a Jayasuriya-esque pull from Perera over deep mid-wicket, four. Another boundary for the southpaw as he gently pierces the gap on the off-side and the ball beats Chahal’s dive.

Make that three in a row as a golf-club like swing sees the ball race to the long off fence. More trouble for Thakur as a slow ball of the fourth delivery sees Perera quickly move into position and loft one high and over the long off fence. Six. More Perera belligerence as the ball slips from Thakur’s hands and it’s a free hit. Sadly for the bowler, the ball beats mid-off and goes to the boundary again. The carnage continues as the fifth one is full and straight – make that 27 from the over. Phew, dot ball from the last ball. What an over, one that Thakur would like to forget in a hurry.

End of over 2: SL 19/1 More luck for Kusal Mendis! Washington Sundar has been given the new ball and the batsman just about manages to clear the mid-off fielder and the ball rolls to the boundary. The next ball is a shuffle across stumps and the ball lands safely in the deep fine-leg region. Smart work at the boundary from Pandey means that the batsmen only get a couple. Mendis continues to use the long handle but what happens when you lose your grip? The ball goes high and falls safely to Dhawan at mid-off, who celebrates with his trademark thigh-five.

Kusal Perera comes in and takes no time settling in as he swats a length ball over deep mid-wicket, six! The batsmen then run a quick single of the last ball.

K Mendis c Dhawan b Washington Sundar 11(6)

End of over 1: SL 6/0 Jaydev Unadkat starts things off with a slow ball to Gunathilaka, no run. A stroke of luck for Kusal Mendis as the ball evades Raina’s half-hearted dive and runs to the fence. More flashing at the outside off-stump region from Mendis but only gets a single from the fifth ball. Dot ball to finish proceedings.

India will be reasonably happy to that one but one wonders if promoting Pant ahead of Karthik was a wise move. India could have pushed for 190. Dhawan once again showed what a dependable customer he is in white-ball cricket. The pitch continues to look good for batting and the target might not be out of reach for the Lankans, who will be against a slightly inexperienced Indian bowling attack.

End of over 19: 174/5 Chameera to bowl the final over and Karthik gives his side a much-needed boundary as the ball takes his bottom edge and runs to the third-man fence. The next one also goes to the fence for a four and that was down to some solid batting: Karthik got back in his crease and rolled his wrists to loft the ball over the square leg-fielder. Pant is back on strike for the fifth ball of the over.

More runs as Pant uses his strong bottom-hand to jab the ball past the dive of the cover fielder. Four more. Sri Lanka finish the innings well as the pacer once again uses the short ball to good effect. Pant can’t clear the fence with his pull shot and it’s an easy catch for Pradeep at fine-leg. The Delhi skipper’s knock was scratchy at best, not too dissimilar to laboured Pandey’s essay.

Pant c Pradeep b Chameera 23 (23)

End of over 18: 160/4 Thisara Perera comes back and it’s full and wide outside the off-stump. New batsman Dinesh Karthik and Pant can squeeze out only three singles from the first three. Another three from the next two deliveries. Perera finishes the tidy over with another full one on off-stump that cramps Pant for room. Just a single off it and it’s just seven from the over.

End of over 17: 153/4 This is excellent from Gunathilaka, who continues to tie Pant down. The Indian youngster, on the other hand, is caught trying to clear the fence. In the last ball of the over, Dhawan once again tries to loft one over the fence but this time, he doesn’t get the elevation and the ball goes straight into the palms of Thisara Perera at long off. What a knock, though. Just three runs and a wicket of that over.

Dhawan c T Perera b Gunathilaka 90 (49)

Ouch...now, that’s harsh

More records...

End of over 16: 150/3 More sixes from Dhawan and frustratingly for Sri Lanka, it’s another top-edge that sails over the fence. This time, it’s from Chameera’s bowling. The hosts have been way to full after their double-wicket break early in the game. Was that a drop?....yes. Chandimal spoons one from behind the stumps as Dhawan tries to stab at the full delivery.

More misery for Sri Lanka as Dhawan punishes them by stepping out and hammering a full-toss delivery over the sightscreen for yet another massive six. 16 from the over. A century is now well within distance.

End of over 15: 134/3 Pant continues to get one over the boundary as Gunathilaka is handed another over. Don’t bother, says Dhawan as he swings one over the deep square-leg fence. Six more. The opener ends the over with a single and it’s another 10-run over.

End of over 14: 124/3 India release the pressure with Dhawan cracking an ENORMOUS six on the leg side, which thunders off the manual scoreboard. A single and a dot later, Pant also gets in on the act, lofting the ball successfully over the long-off fence, SIX more! He tries to go big again but fails to connect it, just a single and it’s 15 from the over.

Some folk are not impressed with Pandey’s scratchy knock:

End of over 13: 109/3 More spin introduced from Chandimal and Gunathilaka comes into the attack. The momentum may have shifted somewhat and it’s another tidy over from the hosts. Just four from it. Pant is off the mark.

End of over 12: 105/3 Lived and perished by the sword, Manish Pandey. He doesn’t connect a short delivery from Jeevan Mendis’s low-arm style and the ball lands kindly to Gunathilaka at deep mid-wicket. Rishabh Pant comes to the crease and he carefully sees out the last ball of the over. Five runs and a wicket from that one and the Lankans have some breathing space.

Pandey c Gunathilaka b J Mendis 37 (35)

End of over 11: IND 100/2 More booming drives through the cover region as Dhawan toys the field and brings up another boundary. Pandey also follows suit and continues to attack the leg-side, and gets a four of his own. Thisara Perera finds better luck with slow bouncers. Another ten-run over and India get to their century.

End of Over 10: IND 90/2 Pandey continues to use the long handle and it’s three runs from the first two off Dhananjaya. And then....two more singles. Dhawan brings up his fifty chasing after a wide delivery outside off-stump, and caresses the ball to the extra-cover fence. He keeps strike. This is Dhawan’s fifth fifty in the format. 10 from the over.

End of Over 9: IND 80/2 Pandey continues to go for the big shots. With a set Dhawan at the other end, rotating the strike might make for more sensible reading of the situation now. Dhawan, meanwhile, continues to look comfortable and is making some fine late adjustments against the slower bowlers. He even played a rare reverse-sweep here, which yielded two runs. Nine from the Jeevan Mendis over.

End of Over 9: IND 71/2 Edge-of-the-seat stuff from Dhawan. No, literally. Pradeep is left stunned as two short deliveries of his sail over the boundary ropes behind the keeper’s head for sixes. It is off back-to-back deliveries and the pressure is on the Lankans now. Good finish from the pacer as he earns two dot deliveries.

End of Over 8: IND 57/2 Jeevan Mendis is introduced into the attack and he instantly makes an impact as Dhawan misses his sweep shot...review taken but it is turned down. Just pitching outside leg. First six of the game and Pandey hammers the full delivery out the park, way into the deep mid-wicket stands. He keeps his strike with a single of the last ball.

End of Over 7: IND 48/2 Thisara Perera comes into the attack for the first time and Pandey shows his class with a one-legged flat-batted flick, Viv Richards style and the ball zooms to the fence, beating the fine leg and deep square-leg fielder. Pandey, though, is getting stuck in the crease and finding trouble rotating strike. The right-hander ends the over with a booming heave over mid-wicket. Just a single, eight from the over.

End of Over 6: IND 40/2 India now look settled and Pandey is now using his bottom hand at will. No risks from Dhawan here but he continues to use the sweep shot effectively against Dhananjaya. Just five singles from the over.

End of Over 5: IND 35/2 Respite for India as Dhawan eases the pressure with a couple of boundaries. The first one has the Dhawan opening the face of the bat and running the ball to the fence, beating the dive of Dhananjaya. The second one is a first-rate snorter by Chameera, which takes Dhawan by surprise, but the ball still manages to beat the short third-man fielder and runs to the fence. Manish Pandey continues to show a penchant for quick singles while Pradeep loses his way as the over progresses. Pandey ends his misery by bashing the ball to the long on boundary. 17 from it and India are in the contest for the first time.

Okay, then...

End of Over 4: IND 18/2 Spin is introduced through Akila Dhananjaya and he instantly has Dhawan in trouble. The opener doesn’t connect with the sweep and there is an almighty appeal from the Lankans, which is turned down by the umpire. The ball was slightly missing leg. Dhawan does connect one during the fourth ball of the over, a short one that is pulled to the fence for a boundary. The batsmen then run a smart brace after Dhawan flicks one to deep mid-wicket. He keeps strike. Eight from the over.

End of Over 3: IND 10/2 This is not easy for Manish Pandey as Chameera is bowling an inspired spell here and his team is in trouble. He beats him with a slow delivery outside the off-stump and follows that up with a ferocious bouncer. The Indian batsman continues to look awkward as he decides against taking risks in the over, which produced just a solitary run.

End of Over 2: IND 9/2 Nuwan Pradeep to bowl the second over. A couple of singles to start proceedings and Raina also gets off the mark. Dhawan charges down the track in the third delivery and manages to beat the mid-off fielder (just about) and the ball rolls into the boundary ropes. The opener then plays a confident pull shot for a single....and calamity off the last ball. Suresh Raina is castled trying to make room expecting a short delivery and ends up looking silly as Pradeep deceives him with a yorker. What a start for the hosts!

Raina b Pradeep 1 (3)

Clearly, a big game for Tamil Nadu:

End of Over 1: IND 2/1 Shikhar Dhawan gets off strike with a flick on the leg side. Suresh Raina faces the last ball of the over and it’s another dot as he can’t piece the gap beyond the point fielder.

IND 1/1 in 0.4 Overs: Pacer Dushmanta Chameera starts proceedings. It’s a full ball pitched on off-stump, which Rohit Sharma drives to cover. No run. The second delivery is pitched much straighter and it’s two dots in a row. Bit of bounce in the third and Chammera slips after his delivery stride, another dot ball.....and India are off the mark through a wayward slow wide ball outside the leg stump....WICKET! Rohit Sharma departs and Jeevan Mendis takes a fine diving catch running backwards from mid-off. Dream start for the Lankans. The Indian captain simply did not get the elevation on that one.

Rohit Sharma c Jeevan Mendis b Chameera 0 (4)

India have dominated recent T20 meetings between the two sides. The match is all set to get under way:

On first look, it seems as though India are a bowler short. Big game for Vijay Shankar. It is also interesting to see Dinesh Karthik and Rishabh Pant make their way into the side.

Sri Lanka playing XI: Upul Tharanga, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (c), Kusal Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Akila Dhananjaya, Dushmanta Chameera, Nuwan Pradeep

Playing XI: Tamil Nadu boys Washington Sundar and Vijay Shankar make their way into the side. The latter will be making his debut. Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur will lead the pace attack. Rishabh Pant has also made his way into the XI while Dinesh Karthik will be keeping wickets.

Toss: Sri Lanka have opted to bowl first. Little surprise there as the Premadasa track looks a belter and they will be fancying their chances chasing.

Hello and welcome to the live updates of the inaugural match of the Nidahas Trophy between India and Sri Lanka. Despite fielding a second-string squad, which has seen the likes of Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, pacers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya rested, India still start out as favourites. With Rohit Sharma, who also captains the team, and Shikhar Dhawan in the side, they should be fancying their chances.

It also remains to be seen if Deepak Hooda makes his debut. He was picked in the side after establishing himself as one of the leading batsmen in the domestic circuit in this format. Axar Patel and 18-year-old Washington Sundar are the spinners but don’t forget wily Suresh Raina’s abilities with the ball. Yuzvendra Chahal will be leading the line. Kuldeep Yadav misses out due to injury.

As for Sri Lanka, they have a lot to prove and the good part is, they know how their opponents work. Home advantage may not particularly weigh heavily in their favour as they lost each and every game, across formats, against India last year. The Lankans also miss some key names in Angelo Mathews and all-rounder Asela Gunaratne. But.....as Rohit said, T20 is like the Premier League or a box or chocolates (whatever analogy suits you) – you never know what you are going to get.