What a nail-biting finish in the Asia Cup Super Fours! In Dubai, Sri Lanka’s batters put on a show against India, tying the scores at 202 each to force a super over in their final group clash. But India sealed the win with style, chasing down just three runs in one dramatic ball.
Sri Lanka needed 203 to win after India posted 202 for five in 20 overs. Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka fired on all cylinders, smashing a 127-run opening stand that left India’s bowlers reeling. They raced to 72 in the powerplay alone, with Perera blasting 58 before Varun Chakaravarthy tricked him into a stumping in the 13th over.
Nissanka kept the chase alive, smashing a stunning maiden century—107 runs—to anchor the innings. Even after quick wickets from Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh felled Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka stayed cool. They needed 23 off the last two overs, then 12 off the final six. Harshit Rana grabbed Nissanka’s wicket on the first ball of the 20th, but Dasun Shanaka and others held firm to tie the game at 202 for five.
In the super over, Kusal Perera and Shanaka faced Arshdeep Singh. He struck twice—wickets on the first and sixth balls—as Sri Lanka managed just two runs. That set India a target of three.
Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill strolled out. Yadav faced the first ball from Maheesh Theekshana and turned it into victory: the pair scampered three runs, wrapping up the Asia Cup thriller in a flash.
Earlier, India’s innings got off to a rocky start with Shubman Gill out early and skipper Suryakumar Yadav falling cheaply. But Abhishek Sharma steadied the ship with his third straight half-century of the tournament—61 runs. Tilak Varma added an unbeaten 49, while Sanju Samson and Axar Patel chipped in during the death overs. Axar smashed a six off the last ball to push India past 200. Sri Lanka’s bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana (1-36), kept it tight but couldn’t stop the flow.
Though India had already booked their spot in the final, this dead rubber highlighted Sri Lanka’s fight against the world No. 1 T20I team. Fans will remember Nissanka’s century and that super over drama for years.
Brief scores:
India 202/5 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 49*; Maheesh Theekshana 1-36, 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, Hardik Pandya 1-7).
Super Over: Sri Lanka 2/2 in 1 over (Arshdeep Singh 2/2) lost to India 3/0 in 0.1 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 3*).
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