BC-CRI--India-Sri Lanka, 2nd Ld-Writethru,0322

Sri Lanka beats India by 29 runs in 1st T20 match

AP Photo DEL131, DEL132, DEL145, DEL146, DEL128

NAGPUR, India (AP) -- Kumar Sangakkara hit 78 off 37 balls Wednesday to lead Sri Lanka to a 29-run win over India in the first of two Twenty20 internationals.

Sangakkara smashed 11 boundaries and two sixes at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium to steer his team to 215-5 after India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and elected to bowl.

Chamara Kapugedera hit 47 from 20 balls, while Tillakaratne Dilshan made 34 and Sanath Jayasuriya 26.

In reply, Gautam Gambhir made 55 off 26 balls but India's middle order faltered and the team finished on 186-9. Jayasuriya took 2-19 and Angelo Mathews 2-30.

The second match is on Saturday.

Off to a flying start with Jayasuriya smashing five boundaries to score 26 off 20 balls and put on 43 for the first wicket, Sri Lanka maintained a brisk run-rate through Sangakkara.

Sangakkara featured in two prosperous partnerships, putting on 74 with Dilshan and 69 with Kapugedera.

Sri Lanka benefited from India dropping four catches, two by Ishant Sharma, including a return chance off his own bowling.

Dilshan's 33-ball innings featured five boundaries, while Kapugedera struck one six and seven fours off 20 deliveries. Offspinner Yusuf Pathan took 1-54 and paceman Ashish Nehra 1-52 were the most expensive Indian bowlers.

India's chase got off to a brisk start with 32 coming quickly before the fall of Virender Sehwag for 26 in the third over.

Gambhir kept India in the contest, hitting 11 fours before being bowler by Mathews in the ninth over. India's middle-order then caved in.

Mathews also dismissed the aggressive Yuvraj Singh for 6 but Sri Lanka's best bowling performance came from Jayasuriya, whose accurate left-arm spin accounted for big-hitters Dhoni for 9 and Yusuf Pathan for 0.

India was already heading for defeat when Suresh Raina contributed a brisk 22 and Nehra made 21.