Sri Lanka required just 30 runs from the final five but then experienced an collapse, ultimately only managing to tie the scores. India, who bowled Rinku Singh and captain Surya Kumar Yadav in the last two overs, somehow forced the match into a Super Over, which they swiftly won Washington Sundar took Sri Lankan wickets in consecutive balls with just two runs on the board, after which Surya hit a four off the first ball to secure the win. This victory gave India a 3-0 clean sweep in Gambhir’s first series as head coach and Surya Kumar’s first as the full-time T20I captain.
TOSS-
Sri Lanka won the Toss and opted to bowl first .
TEAMS LINE UP
India:
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Khaleel Ahmed.
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (c), Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Asitha Fernando.
INDIA
Sri Lanka Bowlers too much strong
Powerplay: 30/4 [RR: 5, 4s: 4]
After an hour’s delay and a quiet opening over, Yashasvi Jaiswal hit a boundary on either side of the strip, but that was the extent of India’s fireworks during the powerplay. Maheesh Theekshana struck in the same over, trapping the young opener LBW, and a DRS appeal did not help. Sanju Samson recorded a second consecutive duck in the following over, and Rinku Singh skied an attempt to loft Theekshana over covers, resulting in a third wicket in as many overs. Sri Lanka, with Asitha Fernando, further pushed India onto the backfoot by dismissing their captain, Surya Kumar, who perished attempting his signature sweep over fine leg. India’s 30/4 was their joint second-lowest powerplay score in T20Is this year, matching their scores against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan.
Gill, Parag handles gradually
Middle overs: 72/1 [RR: 8, 4s/6s: 3/2]
The pressure of three boundary-less overs got to Shivam Dube. The left-hander saw some width from offspinner Ramesh Mendis and tried to cut, only to edge it to the keeper, who caught it on the second attempt. Riyan Parag finally broke the shackles after 33 deliveries with a one-bounce four to long-on. Gill, who had been watching the wickets fall from the other end, took the next six overs to build what was India’s only fifty-plus stand of the game. Parag, however, was the aggressor, hitting Wanindu Hasaranga for two leg-side sixes in three balls.
Hasaranga makes India’s Innings Slow
Death: 35/4 [RR: , 4s/6s: 3/1]
The hosts continued to trust Hasaranga despite his expensive over, and the leg-spinner justified their confidence by dismissing both of India’s set batsmen, accelerating their decline. Gill advanced down the pitch and was stumped followed by Parag who was caught attempting to pull a short delivery. Theekshana, returning from a shoulder issue, claimed his third wicket, but not before Washington Sundar contributed a useful 25, including a misfield at the boundary that resulted in a six. This effort helped India reach a somewhat respectable 137/9.
SRI LANKA
Sri Lanka Openers provide a solid start
Powerplay: 35/0 [RR: 5.83, 4s: 4]
On a pitch offering significant turn, Sri Lanka’s openers laid a strong foundation for their chase. Nissanka had a close call early on, facing a superb delivery from Mohammed Siraj on the first ball, but he recovered with three boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed’s second over in the Power Play. Siraj eventually created a chance against Kusal Mendis in the sixth over, but Samson dropped it despite a diving effort. Although Sri Lanka’s powerplay score was only slightly better than India’s, they crucially retained all their wickets.
Kusals Keeps Sri Lanka alive in the chase
Middle Overs: 73/1 [RR: 8.11, 4s: 9]
Mendis, who had scored just 12 off 17 balls in the powerplay, picked up the pace with consecutive boundaries as Ravi Bishnoi came into the attack. He received another life from Samson, though it was a difficult chance for the Indian keeper. However, Nissanka was caught at deep midwicket two balls later, giving India and Bishnoi their first breakthrough. Kusal Perera joined Mendis and together they built a crucial half-century partnership in 37 deliveries, with Perera hitting successive fours off Bishnoi. While Perera played the aggressive role, Mendis anchored the innings on a challenging pitch.
Rinku, SKY Restrict Sri Lanka in the very last moments .
Death Overs: 29/7 [RR: 5.8]
With 30 runs needed off the final overs, Sri Lanka’s chase faltered as Bishnoi trapped Mendis leg-before, who wasted a review on his way back. Bishnoi was involved in all three dismissals up to that point. After finishing with 2-38, he took a stunning catch in the deep to dismiss the big-hitting Hasaranga, whose promotion failed to deliver the desired results. Washington Sundar then took two wickets in two balls, with Charith Asalanka nicking behind for a golden duck. An 18th over filled with wides from Khaleel went for 12 runs, putting Sri Lanka in a strong position. With 9 runs needed off 12 balls, Suryakumar took a bold decision to bowl Rinku Singh and himself, and the duo managed to induce a dramatic collapse, taking two wickets each for 3 and 5 runs respectively, pushing the game into a Super Over.
SUPER OVER
Sri Lanka managed only two runs, including a wide from Washington Sundar, in three balls and lost both their batsmen to big shots. Kusal Perera pulled one straight to deep backward square leg, and Pathum Nissanka failed to get the elevation on his attempted pull. India needed just three runs to win, and Suryakumar swept the first ball to short fine leg, where a misfield resulted in a boundary, ending Sri Lanka’s hopes.
Brief Scores:
India 137/9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Maheesh Theekshana 3-28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-29) tied with Sri Lanka 137/8 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 46, Kusal Mendis 43; Ravi Bishnoi 2-38, Washington Sundar 2-23) – India won the Super Over.
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