India pulled off a thrilling escape against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup Super Four stage, winning a high-stakes Super Over after both teams tied at 202 runs. The match in Dubai kept fans on the edge of their seats, with Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka smashing a stunning century but falling just short in the end.
This victory keeps India unbeaten in the tournament and sends them straight to the final. Sri Lanka, who entered the Super Four without a loss, exits without a single win here, thanks to some clutch bowling from the Indian side.
India set a challenging target of 202 for 5 in their 20 overs, powered by Abhishek Sharma’s explosive 61 off 31 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. Tilak Varma remained not out on 49 from 34 balls, with four boundaries and a six, while Sanju Samson fired 39 off 23 balls, blasting a four and three sixes. Even as captain Suryakumar Yadav scored just 12 and Hardik Pandya managed 2, Axar Patel’s unbeaten 21 helped push the score to the second-highest in Asia Cup T20 history.
Sri Lanka’s chase started rocky when Hardik Pandya dismissed Kusal Mendis for a golden duck, leaving them at 7 for 1 after just 0.4 overs. But openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera turned it around, racing to 50 in 4.3 overs by hammering Harshit Rana for 16 in the fifth, with Nissanka’s two sixes and a four.
Spin didn’t slow them down either—Axar Patel leaked two boundaries in the powerplay, ending at 72 for 1. Nissanka reached his third fifty of the Asia Cup in just 25 balls, then his maiden T20I century off 51 balls with seven fours and six sixes, becoming only the third batter to hit a ton in the tournament’s T20 format.
By the 10-over mark, Sri Lanka were flying at 114 for 1—the highest halfway score this edition—with Nissanka on 61 not out and Perera on 52 not out. Harshit Rana struggled again, giving away 16 more runs in his third over.
The dangerous 127-run opening stand broke when Varun Chakaravarthy stumped Perera for 58 off 32 balls. Quick wickets followed: Kuldeep Yadav got Charith Asalanka for 5, and Arshdeep Singh removed Kamindu Mendis for 3, leaving Sri Lanka at 163 for 4 after 16.4 overs.
With 23 needed off two overs, Nissanka and Dasun Shanaka kept the pressure on. Arshdeep bowled the penultimate over, conceding 11 runs with two wides and a four, setting up 12 to win off the last.
Harshit Rana struck first ball of the final over, getting Nissanka out for 107 off 58 balls. But Sri Lanka scrambled to tie the scores, forcing a Super Over.
In the decider, Arshdeep Singh dominated, taking Perera’s wicket on the first ball and Shanaka’s with two runs scored and one ball left—Sri Lanka ended at 2 for 2. India captain Suryakumar Yadav then sealed it with a single off the first ball alongside Shubman Gill.
India’s composure in the crunch moments shone through, marking a big step toward Asia Cup glory, while Nissanka’s heroics will linger as one of the tournament’s highlights.
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