The third and final T20I match of the Sri Lanka vs India T20I series went down to the wire as the game ended in a tie and went to super over. Sri Lanka had themselves to blame as they collapsed yet again to give India the tie from a winning position. In the end, India held their cool and won the game with Suryakumar Yadav hitting the winning runs.
Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka didn’t hesitate in putting India to bat after winning the toss. The home team gave the debut cap to Chamindu Wickramasinghe while India made four changes to the team.
India could only score 137/9 from their 20 overs, with Shubman Gill top-scoring with 39 and Riyan Parag scoring 26. Maheesh Theekshana was the best bowler for Sri Lanka with 3/28, while Wanindu Hasaranga picked 2 wickets to dent the Indian batting unit.
Sri Lanka collapse yet again to hand India the win
The home team opened with Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis as the two stars added 58 runs for the first wicket. After playing the first two overs with caution, Pathum Nissanka opened his shoulders as he hit Khaleel Ahmed for a few boundaries.
Mohammed Siraj produced an edge off Kusal Mendis’ bat but Sanju Samson dropped an easy catch. Mendis got yet another life when Samson dropped him for a second time in two overs.
Ravi Bishnoi got the first wicket for India when he dismissed Nissanka for 26 caught by Riyan Parag. Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera then added 52 runs for the 2nd wicket in 39 balls to bring Sri Lanka to the cusp of a win.
Kusal Mendis was out LBW for 43 when he was caught in front of the wicket to give Bishnoi his second wicket. Washington Sundar then got India back into the match when he dismissed Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka off successive balls. Ramesh Mendis survived the hattrick ball as Sri Lanka needed 21 runs from 3 overs.
All the focus was on Kusal Perera who was batting well after scoring a fifty in the last game. Khaleel Ahmed given the 18th over conceded too many extras for the captain's liking to give Sri Lanka the much-needed cushion as 12 runs came off the over.
Needing 9 runs from the last two overs, the home team were the favourites for the game. Suryakumar Yadav threw the ball to Rinku Singh to do some magic with the ball. The 26-year-old struck when he dismissed Kusal Perera to change the game once more.
Kamindu Mendis came to the wicket and took a single off the first ball. This got the equation to 8 needed off 9 balls as Ramesh Mendis picked 2 runs to make it 6 of 8. One dot ball was followed by a wicket in the last ball to make it six runs off six balls. Ramesh Mendis was out-caught by Riyan Parag to give Rinku Singh his 2nd wicket.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav bowled the last over and began with a dot ball. The second ball saw Kamindu Mendis go for a reverse sweep and only managed to hole out to Rinku Singh. Maheesh Theekshana came out and fell for a first-ball duck as SKY was on a hat trick. Asitha Fernando took a single to make it five needed off two balls.
Two runs were taken off the penultimate ball to make it 3 runs needed off 1 ball. Suryakumar Yadav saw two runs being taken in the last ball as the game ended in a tie and went to super over.
Washington Sundar got the wickets of Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka as Sri Lanka scored just 2 runs. Needing three runs to win Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill came out to bat and scored the winning runs with a four.
Here’s how the fans reacted
Raavan ki team bhi aise nahi haari thi.#INDvsSL
— 0SH0 (@L0RDSHEN) July 30, 2024
Doodh dhai wale 🚩#indvssl #SuryakumarYadav pic.twitter.com/wB7yVf4Gvs
— Alka Yadav (@alkaydvv) July 30, 2024
Sri Lanka's batting starts after 15 overs. For 15 overs, the spirit of Australia remains in the Sri Lankan team.🤣🤣#INDvSL #INDvsSL
— Jaisal Kumar (@JAISALKUMAR97) July 30, 2024
🤣🤣#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/vxGncTk1IY
— Iam_kittu (@Krishnawadekar4) July 30, 2024
Lightning struck Thrice 😂😅 #IndvsSL
— Gagan Dhundele🇮🇳 (@gagandhundele) July 30, 2024
What a Win India!! Even after non performing frauds like @IamSanjuSamson & @imK_Ahmed13 doing everything to loose, others in the team raised the hands and snatched Victory from the jaws of defeat!!
— Rebel22 (@SonamDolma45953) July 30, 2024
Welcome to the new SKY era! #SLvsIND #INDvsSL Love #Washington Sundar. 😍
Sri Lanka can't even hit vs rinku and sky. How low they have went. #INDvsSL
— kamalistan (@kamalistanX) July 30, 2024