3rd T20I
Rinku Singh and Surya Kumar Yadav along with Washington Sundar has secured Super Over victory for India in Pallekele
India scored 137/9 in 20 overs, where as Sri Lanka also scored 137/8 in 20 overs.
Match got Tied – India won the Super Over.
A third collapse in as many games cost Sri Lanka their chance of avoiding a T20I series whitewash, as India snatched a Super Over victory from the jaws of defeat in Pallekele on Tuesday (July 30).
After a rain delay, India batted first and struggled to a modest 137/9, with Sri Lanka’s bowlers dismantling the top order during the Power Play.
Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis, with contrasting knocks of 43 each, had Sri Lanka well-positioned in their chase before Indian spinners triggered a dramatic collapse of 7 wickets for 27 runs in just 26 balls, leveling the game.
With his frontline spinners exhausted, Surya Kumar Yadav took a gamble by bowling Rinku Singh and himself, managing to defend 9 runs off 12 balls and forcing a Super Over, which was as one-sided as the first two T20Is.
SUPER OVER
Sri Lanka could only manage two runs in their three-ball Super Over, with one run coming from a wide delivered by Washington Sundar.
They lost both their batters to big hits, with Kusal Perera being dismissed to deep backward square leg and Pathum Nissanka failing to clear the infield with his attempted pull.
India required just three runs to win, and Surya Kumar Yadav sealed the match with a sweep to short fine leg, where a misfield resulted in a boundary, ending Sri Lanka’s misery.
INDIA
Sri Lanka strike early
Powerplay: 30/4 [RR: 5, 4s: 4]
After an hour’s delay and a quiet first over, Yashasvi Jaiswal struck a boundary on either side of the strip, but that was all the fireworks India would see during the Powerplay.
Maheesh Theekshana struck in the same over to dismiss the young opener LBW.
Sanju Samson bagged a duck in the following over, and Rinku Singh was dismissed trying to loft Theekshana over covers, making it three wickets in as many overs.
Sri Lanka, led by Asitha Fernando, put India on the back foot further by dismissing captain Surya Kumar Yadav while attempting a signature sweep.
India’s 30/4 was their second-lowest Powerplay score in T20Is this year, following a 28/4 against Zimbabwe and 30/4 against Afghanistan.
Gill, Parag consolidate
Middle overs: 72/1 [RR: 8, 4s/6s: 3/2]
The pressure of three boundary-less overs took its toll on Shivam Dube, who edged a cut shot off offspinner Ramesh Mendis.
Riyan Parag broke the shackles after 33 deliveries with a one-bounce four to long-on.
Gill, having witnessed the wicket procession from the other end, built India’s only fifty-plus partnership of the game over the next six overs.
Parag was the aggressor, hitting Wanindu Hasaranga for two leg-side sixes in three balls.
Hasaranga triggers another collapse
Death overs: 35/4 [RR: 7, 4s/6s: 3/1]
Despite a 15-run over, Sri Lanka persisted with Hasaranga, who repaid the faith by dismissing both of India’s set batters.
Gill was stumped attempting a big shot, and Parag holed out while trying to pull a short delivery.
Theekshana, returning from a shoulder niggle, claimed his third wicket, but not before Washington Sundar added a useful cameo of 25 runs, including a six off a misfield.
India crawled to a semi-decent 137/9.
SRI LANKA
Opens lay solid base for chase
Powerplay: 35/0 [RR: 5.83, 4s: 4]
On a pitch offering ample turn, Sri Lanka’s openers set a solid foundation for the chase.
Nissanka survived a close call against Mohammed Siraj’s first ball but later scored three boundaries off Khaleel Ahmed.
Siraj created a chance against Kusal Mendis in the sixth over, but Samson dropped it despite a diving effort.
Sri Lanka scored slightly better than India during the Powerplay and crucially avoided losing a wicket.
Kusals keep Sri Lanka in the hunt
Middle overs: 73/1 [RR: 8.11, 4s: 9]
Mendis, who had only scored 12 runs in the Powerplay, started aggressively with consecutive boundaries off Ravi Bishnoi.
He was reprieved once more by Samson, though it was a tough chance.
Nissanka was dismissed at deep midwicket, giving India their first breakthrough.
Kusal Perera joined Mendis and formed a crucial half-century stand in 37 deliveries.
While Perera played the impactful innings, Mendis anchored the innings on a challenging pitch.
Rinku, SKY restrict Sri Lanka
Death overs: 29/7 [RR: 5.8]
Sri Lanka needed 30 runs from the final overs and began poorly with Bishnoi dismissing Mendis, who was trapped plumb in front.
Bishnoi was instrumental in all three dismissals up to this point.
After finishing with 2-38, Bishnoi made a stunning catch to dismiss the big-hitting Hasaranga.
Washington Sundar took two wickets in two balls, including Charith Asalanka for a golden duck.
Despite a wide-filled 18th over from Khaleel that went for 12 runs, Sri Lanka still required 9 off 12 balls.
Surya Kumar Yadav took a gamble by bowling Rinku Singh and himself, and together they restricted Sri Lanka to force a Super Over.
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