Dubai: Sri Lanka gave India a wake-up call on their way out of the T20 Asia Cup, forcing a Super Over in an otherwise inconsequential Super Four clash on Friday. Chasing India’s 202 — the first 200-plus total of the tournament — the islanders rode on a record 127-run stand off just 70 balls between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera to tie the game off the final delivery. But Sri Lanka faltered in the Super Over, losing two wickets and setting India a modest target of three runs, which the Men in Blue chased down without fuss off the first delivery. Nissanka and Perera took the attack to India’s bowlers from the outset, hammering 114 in the first 10 overs and punishing Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, who together leaked 100 runs in their eight overs. Nissanka was the star, smashing the tournament’s first century — a dazzling 107 off 58 deliveries with seven fours and six sixes. He brought up the milestone with a towering six off Arshdeep in the 17th over and became only the third batter after Virat Kohli and Babar Hayat (Hong Kong) to score a hundred in the T20 Asia Cup. Varun Chakravarthy finally broke the stand, drawing Perera out of his crease for Sanju Samson to whip off the bails. Rana then dismissed Nissanka off the first ball of the final over, leaving Sri Lanka needing 12 off the last five. Dasun Shanaka and Janith Liyanage fought hard but could only manage 11, pushing the match into the Super Over.
Earlier, India’s top order finally delivered, piling up 202, their first 200-plus total of the tournament. The innings was built around Abhishek Sharma, who cracked his third consecutive half-century, a 61 off 31 balls (8×4, 2×6). The 25-year-old took his tournament tally to 309 runs — the most by any batter in a single Asia Cup — eclipsing Mohammad Rizwan’s 281 in 2022. Abhishek’s runs have come at a staggering strike rate of 204.63, studded with 19 sixes and 31 fours. He looked in sublime touch, welcoming Maheesh Theekshana with an 88-metre six over mid-wicket and taking 15 runs off Dushmantha Chameera’s first over. He reached his sixth career T20I fifty in just 22 balls before falling to a half-tracker from Charith Asalanka, visibly frustrated with himself as Kamindu Mendis held on at mid-wicket. Tilak Varma (49 off 34, 4×4, 1×6) and Sanju Samson (29 off 23, 1×4, 3×6) kept the momentum going with a 66-run stand for the fifth wicket. Axar Patel’s six off the last delivery ensured India crossed the 200-run mark. Suryakumar Yadav’s lean run as captain continued as he managed only a brief stay before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga, unsuccessfully reviewing the dismissal. Since taking over as skipper, Surya has just 99 runs in 10 innings at an average of 12 and faces a big test in Sunday’s final against Pakistan. Shubman Gill’s struggles also persisted as he fell early, caught and bowled by Theekshana. With scores of 20*, 10, 5, 47, 29, and 4 in this Asia Cup, he will be desperate for runs in the summit clash. Hardik Pandya contributed just 2 before top-edging a pull off Chameera. Adding to India’s worries, Hardik bowled only one over before leaving the field with what appeared to be a niggle after having Kusal Mendis caught in the slips by Gill. India rested Jasprit Bumrah and Shivam Dube for this game, bringing in Arshdeep and Rana, both of whom endured a tough outing.
