Team India ended the T20I series against Sri Lanka with another win on Tuesday at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Courtesy of a thrilling super-over win, Suryakumar Yadav inflicted a 3-0 series whitewash over the home side.
For the most part of the game, it looked like Sri Lanka would win the match easily. However, they suffered another batting collapse which led to the game going into the super over.
Earlier, Sri Lankan skipper, C Asalanka had won the toss and elected to field first. The decision paid rich dividends as Sri Lankan bowlers pushed India to the back foot in the powerplay itself.
The Men in Blue had lost five wickets for just 48 runs inside the first nine overs. Opener, Yashasvi Jaiswal got out cheaply, while Sanju Samson departed for yet another duck in the series. Suryakumar Yadav couldn’t do anything special, either.
However, Shubman Gill played a cautious knock and along with Rayan Parag, he added 54 runs for the sixth wicket. Gill scored a pretty good knock of 39 off 37, while Parag contributed 26 off 18.
However, just when it looked like the duo would up the ante, both departed in the 16th over. Nevertheless, a late push from Washington Sundar (25 off 18) meant India had managed to score 137 runs at the end of the first innings.
M Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he claimed three wickets for 28 runs in four overs. In pursuit of the target, Sri Lanka openers made a pretty good start. The duo stitched a 58-run partnership before Ravi Bishnoi drew the first blood in the form of Nissanka (26) in the ninth over.
Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera, however, continued to put pressure on India as they added 52 runs for the second wicket. It looked like Sri Lanka would chase down the score pretty easily but Ravi Bishnoi then got into his act.
He broke the partnership in the 16th over by sending Kusal Mendis (43 of 41) back to the hut. In the following over, Washington Sundar sent back skipper Asalanka (0) and Hasaranga (3) to give India some hope.
In a big twist, Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Rinku Singh to ball the 19th over. Much to the delight of the Indian fans, he struck twice in the form of Perera (46) and Ramesh Mendis (3).
If this wasn’t it, Suryakumar Yadav himself came to bowl the final over. With three needed off the final ball, Sri Lanka managed to take a brace and the match went down to the super over.
Washington Sundar bowled the super over and struck on the second and third ball of the over with Sri Lanka managing just 2 runs. Suryakumar Yadav finished it off by scoring a boundary on the very first ball of the chase.
