ASIA CUP, 2025
Nissanka’s maiden T20I century was in vain after Sri Lanka managed just two runs in the Super Over. © Getty
The final Super 4s game, which was ironically inconsequential, proved to be one of the most exhilarating contests of the tournament as it was decided by a Super Over. A high-scoring affair at Dubai saw India post a mammoth 202 – the highest total of the tournament on the back of another blitz from Abhishek Sharma. Sri Lanka responded with a valiant chase and were led by Pathum Nissanka who struck a swashbuckling 107 off 58 balls.
Super over finish
With nothing to separate the sides after 40 overs of cricket, Sri Lanka crumbled in the Super Over. Kusal Perera holed out to deep point off the very first ball. Bizarre scenes unfolded next as Dasun Shanaka managed to overturn a caught-behind dismissal to also evade being run-out. He was dismissed the very next ball though as Sri Lanka managed to muster just two runs. India needed just one delivery to knock the three runs required with Suryakumar Yadav threading a gap through cover.
INDIA
PowerPlay – Abhishek gives India another rollicking start
Phase score: 71/1 [RR: 11.83, 4s/6s: 9/2]
After being inserted to bat, India lost Shubman Gill early after Maheesh Theekshana held on to a sharp return catch in the second over. Nuwan Thushara bowled a tidy first over but couldn’t maintain his discipline in his second as Abhishek, who’d got underway with a massive six in the previous over, set the tone for India. Abhishek continued to surge forward as he struck Dushmantha Chameera for a clean six before backing it up with a couple of boundaries in the following over. He brought fifty, his third in a row, off just 22 balls after smacking a couple more boundaries in the sixth over – ensuring another explosive PowerPlay for India where they scored 71/1.
Middle overs – Tilak and Samson power India
Phase score: 79/2 [RR: 8.77 , 4s/6s: 4/3]
Much like in their previous game, India stumbled after an excellent start. Skipper Suryakumar’s lean patch with the bat continued as he was trapped LBW by Wanindu Hasaranga right after the PowerPlay. The well-set and in-form Abhishek was the next to fall after holing out to deep midwicket. Samson and Tilak Varma, however, ensured that India didn’t suffer a collapse. Through a combination of good strike-rotation and timely blows, they sustained the scoring rate while also stabilizing the innings. As Hasaranga struggled with what appeared to be a side-strain, Sri Lanka struggled for control through the middle.
Death overs – Steady scoring sees India breach 200
Phase score: 52/2 [RR: 10.40, 4s/6s: 3/2]
India lost a bit of momentum as they lost both Samson and Hardik Pandya in quick succession. The Sri Lankan bowlers used the wide yorker to good effect to curb the boundaries but India ensured that they didn’t get bogged down by rotating the strike and running hard. Axar Patel struck a six off the final delivery to take India past 200 while Tilak remained unbeaten on 49 at the other end.
SRI LANKA
PowerPlay – Sri Lanka match India blow for blow
Phase score: 72/1 [RR: 12.00, 4s/6s: 8/3]
In reply, Nissanka got underway in stylish fashion as he slashed his first ball through point for four. His opening partner Kusal Mendis though could achieve no such thing as he was out for a golden duck edging to slip. There was more action in the first over as India burned a review following an unsuccessful appeal for LBW against Kusal Perera. Sri Lanka were unfazed by the early setback though and began to mount a spirited chase. They struck boundaries at will and kept the strike ticking over in between to not just stay abreast with the asking rate but get ahead of it. The early onslaught took them to 72/1 after the first six – a run more than India managed at the same stage.
Middle overs – Nissanka and Perera dominate
Phase score: 85/1 [RR: 9.44, 4s/6s: 7/3]
Both Sri Lankan batters ensured that the intensity did not ease once the fielding restrictions eased. Nissanka raised his fifty off just 25 balls in the 8th over before Kusal Perera matched his effort in the very next over. The 10th over saw an interesting event when Nissanka heaved a delivery out towards Axar at deep midwicket only for him to tip it over. Luckily for Axar, it did not go down as either a drop or a six as the umpire had signalled dead ball owing to an extra man – both a substitute and the fielder he was replacing – being on the field of play.
There was no respite for India though as the carnage continued. The 11th over went for 16 and the duo shared a 127-run stand – the highest in Asia Cup T20s. India’s breakthrough finally came when Kusal Perera was out stumped to Varun Chakaravarthy in the 13th over and it was a wicket set up by Kuldeep Yadav who bowled a tight over prior. Even as Charith Asalanka struggled to get going, Nissanka continued to keep Sri Lanka on track and marched into the 90s.
Death overs – Right down to the wire
Phase score: 45/3 [RR: 9.00, 4s/6s: 2/2]
With the game in a state of equilibrium, Kuldeep bowled a tight over, where he dismissed a struggling Asalanka and conceded just four, to wrest control back towards India. Kamindu Mendis failed to offer Nissanka much support as well and he was dismissed by Arshdeep in the 17th over. Nissanka though continued to fight and notched up his maiden T20I century by lofting a six back down the ground. A boundary off the last ball of an otherwise tight Arshdeep over left Sri Lanka with 12 to get off the final over. It started well for India as Nissanka was out clipping one straight to short fine-leg off the very first ball. The equation was brought down to seven off two before Shanaka managed a boundary off a thick outside edge. With three needed off the final ball, a mistimed hack only yielded two runs to take the game into a super over.
Brief scores: India 202/5 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 49*; Charith Asalanka 1-18) tied with Sri Lanka 202/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 107, Kusal Perera 58; Kuldeep Yadav 1-31, Varun Chakaravarthy 1-31) India won the Super Over
© Cricbuzz
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