Colombo, Mar 6: India's second string team lost their opening encounter of the Nidahas Tri-Nation T20 series against hosts Sri Lanka by five wickets, here tonight.

Batting first, India scored 174 for 5, riding on Shikhar Dhawan's 90 off 49 balls.

In reply, Sri Lanka scored the runs in 18.3 overs with Kusal Perera scoring 66 off 37 balls and Thisara Perera smashing an unbeaten 22 off 10 balls.

Brief Scores: India 174/5 in 20 overs (S Dhawan 90 off 49 balls).

Sri Lanka 175/5 in 18.3 overs (Kusal Perera 66 off 37 balls, Thisara Perera 22 no off 10 balls, W Sundar 2/28 in 4 overs).

Danushka Gunathilaka c Pant b Unadkat 19 Kusal Mendis c Dhawan b Washington Sundar 11; Kusal Perera st Karthik b Washington Sundar 66; Dinesh Chandimal (c) b Chahal 14; Upul Tharanga b Chahal 17; Dasun Shanaka not out 15; Thisara Perera not out 22

Extras: 11 (lb 4, nb 1, w 6) Total: 175/5 (18.3 Overs) Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-70, 3-98, 4-127, 5-136.

Bowling: Jaydev Unadkat 3-0-35-1, Washington Sundar 4-0-28-2, Shardul Thakur 3.3-0-42-0, Yuzvendra Chahal 4-0-37-2, Vijay Shankar 2-0-15-0, Suresh Raina 2-0-14-0.