India Clinches Dramatic Super Over Victory to Whitewash Sri Lanka in T20I Series
Pallekele, 31st July 2024: Sri Lanka’s chance to avoid a T20I series whitewash was dashed on July 30 in Pallekele as India clinched a dramatic Super Over victory. Despite Sri Lanka’s strong performance, they succumbed to a third collapse in as many games, allowing India to snatch a win from a seemingly lost position.
After a rain delay, India batted first and struggled to 137/9, thanks to Sri Lanka’s effective disruption of their top order during the PowerPlay. Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis led Sri Lanka’s chase with solid innings, but a dramatic collapse of 7 wickets for 27 runs in 26 balls from Indian spinners forced the match into a tie. Suryakumar Yadav’s gamble with Rinku Singh and himself to bowl the final overs resulted in a tie-breaker, which proved as lopsided as the previous games.
SUPER OVER
Sri Lanka could only manage two runs in the Super Over, including a wide from Washington Sundar. Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka fell to key deliveries, with Perera getting caught at deep backward square leg and Nissanka failing to clear the field. India required just three runs to win, and Suryakumar Yadav sealed the victory by sweeping the first ball to short fine leg for a boundary, ending Sri Lanka’s hopes.
INDIA
Sri Lanka’s Early Strike
Powerplay: 30/4 [RR: 5, 4s: 4]
Following a delay, Yashasvi Jaiswal managed a couple of boundaries, but the PowerPlay saw little else from India. Maheesh Theekshana dismissed Jaiswal, and Sanju Samson fell for a duck shortly after. Rinku Singh also failed, and Suryakumar Yadav fell attempting a sweep. India’s 30/4 was their second-lowest PowerPlay score in T20Is this year.
Gill and Parag Stabilize
Middle Overs: 72/1 [RR: 8, 4s/6s: 3/2]
Shivam Dube struggled with a lack of boundaries, but Riyan Parag finally broke the drought with a boundary. Gill and Parag formed India’s only fifty-plus partnership of the game, with Parag hitting two sixes off Wanindu Hasaranga.
Hasaranga Triggers Collapse
Death Overs: 35/4 [RR: 7, 4s/6s: 3/1]
Despite an expensive over, Hasaranga claimed the wickets of Gill and Parag, leading to a swift collapse. Theekshana, returning from an injury, took his third wicket while Washington Sundar’s cameo helped India reach 137/9.
SRI LANKA
Strong Start
Powerplay: 35/0 [RR: 5.83, 4s: 4]
Sri Lanka’s openers provided a solid foundation, with Nissanka surviving an early scare and scoring boundaries. They managed to keep wickets intact during the PowerPlay, unlike India.
Kusals Keep Sri Lanka in the Game
Middle Overs: 73/1 [RR: 8.11, 4s: 9]
Mendis and Perera built a crucial partnership, with Mendis making back-to-back boundaries and Perera adding key runs. The stand was vital, with Mendis anchoring and Perera scoring aggressively.
Rinku and SKY Restrict Sri Lanka
Death Overs: 29/7 [RR: 5.8]
Sri Lanka needed 30 runs in the final overs but struggled with crucial wickets falling to Bishnoi and Washington Sundar. Despite a strong late push from the South Korean duo, Suryakumar and Rinku’s bowling in the final overs led to another Sri Lankan collapse and forced the match into the Super Over.
Brief Scores: India 137/9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Maheesh Theekshana 3-28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-29) tied with Sri Lanka 137/8 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 46, Kusal Mendis 43; Ravi Bishnoi 2-38, Washington Sundar 2-23) – India won the Super Over.
