
(AP Photo)
Team India achieved a clean sweep against Sri Lanka by clinching victory in the third and final T20 match through a thrilling Super Over. The match, held at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, saw India posting 137 runs in their 20 overs.
Sri Lanka matched this score exactly in their innings, leading to a tense Super Over. India’s bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to just two runs while picking up two wickets. Suryakumar Yadav then sealed the win for India with a boundary, concluding the match in spectacular fashion.
The match commenced an hour late due to adverse weather conditions and a wet outfield. After winning the toss, Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka chose to field first. The decision paid off immediately as Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for just 10 runs in the second over.
Sanju Samson, who had a disappointing previous outing with a duck, continued his struggle as he was again dismissed without scoring by Chamindu Wickramasinghe. Rinku Singh, who was promoted up the batting order, didn’t contribute much either, falling cheaply for just a single run, also to Theekshana.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav strode in with the task of stabilizing India’s faltering innings but could only muster 8 runs before being dismissed by Asitha Fernando.
Shivam Dube contributed 13 runs before falling to Ramesh Mendis, caught behind by Kusal Mendis.
Riyan Parag and Shubman Gill then anchored the innings with a steady 54-run partnership, guiding India past the 100-run mark. However, Gill, the top scorer of the day for India with 39 runs, lost his wicket to a stumping off Wanindu Hasaranga’s delivery. Hasaranga struck again in the same over, dismissing Parag for 26 runs.
Washington Sundar chipped in with a crucial 25 runs before falling to Maheesh Theekshana, who completed his three-wicket haul. Ravi Bishnoi remained unbeaten on 8 runs while Mohammed Siraj was run out off the final ball, as India finished their innings at 137 for the loss of 9 wickets in 20 overs.
In response, Sri Lanka’s opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis provided a solid start with a 58-run partnership before Nissanka was dismissed by Ravi Bishnoi for 26 runs.
Kusal Perera joined Mendis and together they steered Sri Lanka past the hundred-run mark. However, Mendis fell just short of his half-century, dismissed by Bishnoi, while Washington Sundar struck twice in consecutive deliveries to remove Hasaranga and Asalanka, injecting some late drama into the match.
Rinku Singh was entrusted with the ball for the penultimate over and justified his captain’s trust by dismissing Perera, adding pressure on the hosts as the game neared its conclusion. Suryakumar Yadav took charge of the final over and made a significant impact, claiming two crucial wickets to restrict Sri Lanka to 137 runs, thus forcing the match into a super over.
In the decisive super over, Indian spinner Washington Sundar was exceptional, picking up two wickets while conceding only two runs, effectively closing out Sri Lanka’s innings. Suryakumar Yadav then delivered the decisive blow with a boundary off the first ball, securing the whitewash for India in style.