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In a pulsating finale to the T20I series, the Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, secured a dramatic victory over Charith Asalanka’s Sri Lanka in the third and final T20I at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday (July 30). India achieved a clean sweep in the series, winning 3-0, despite facing a challenging final match that extended into a Super Over. The Indian side emerged victorious from a precarious position, largely due to the exceptional bowling performances of Rinku Singh and Suryakumar in the final overs of the match.
India’s resilient performance
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl first, putting India on the back foot early on. The Lankan bowlers restricted the Indian top order significantly, with only Shubman Gill managing to make a substantial impact. Gill scored 39 runs off 37 balls, while the rest of the top-order struggled, with Yashasvi Jaiswal (10), Sanju Samson (0), Rinku (1), Suryakumar (8) and Shivam Dube (13) all failing to contribute effectively. Indi🐻a lost five wickets for just 45 runs, strugg🍨ling to build a solid foundation.
Despite the top-order collapse, Riyan Parag (26 off 18 balls) and Washington Sundar (25 off 18 balls) provided some valuable contributions. Their efforts, along with Gill’s innings, helped India post a total of 137 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Maheesh Theekshana was the standout bowler for Sri Lan♉ka, 𒀰claiming three wickets.
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Sri Lanka’s chase and super over drama
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase was anchored by Kusal Mendis, who scored 43 runs off 41 balls. However, key moments in the match turned the tide in India’s favor. Washington Sundar‘s crucial double-wicket over in the 17th over, where he dismissed two Sri Lankan batters, significantly tightened the contest. When Sri Lanka needed 9 runs from 12 balls, Rinku, making his T20 debut as a bowler, delivered a stunning 19th over. He dismissed Kusal Perera (46 off 34 balls) and Ramesh Mendis, leaving Sri Lanka needing 6 runs off the final ovꦉer.
Captain Suryakumar took charge of the last over for India and delivered a rema꧋rkable performance, taking two wickets and conceding only five runs. This superb bowling effort restricted Sri Lanka to 137 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs, and the match proceeded to the Super Over.
The decisive super over: India’s thrilling finish
The Super Over began with Sri Lanka batting first, facing a crucial task to set a challengingꦍ target fo😼r India. Sri Lanka’s innings nevertheless was quickly disrupted by India’s Sundar, who delivered a masterful performance.
Sundar’s accuracy and composure under pressure were evident as he restricted Sri L෴anka to just 3 runs in their Super Over. His first delivery resulted in a single, and he followed up with a well-placed ball that yielded another single. Sundar’s next delivery trapped a Sri Lankan batter in front of the s✱tumps for a critical wicket. After another dot ball and a single, Sundar struck again, taking another wicket and ensuring the Sri Lankans could only manage a total of 3 runs.
With the modest target set, India’s Suryakumar took on the challenge of chasing down the runs. He faced the first ball of the Super Over with intent, and with a powerful stroke, struck a boundary through the infield. This bౠoundary not only secured the winning runs but also sealed the match for India, confirming their clean sweep of the series with a 3♛-0 victory.
Here’s how Netizens reacted:
I feel pity for Sri Lanka cricket fans. Wha🌠t do they have to see these d🌞ays.
— Avesh Yadav (@Aveshyadav)
This is called COMEBACK and this is what we call WORLD😼 CHAMPIONS !!♓! 🔥🔥
— Praneet Samaiya (@praneetsamaiya)
Congratulations surya an💞d gambhir for winning theღ maiden series.🙌❤️
— Anurag Pandey🇮🇳 (@AnuragP52225)
What a match. What a performance ꦬby Rinku Singh🌌 and Surya Kumar Yadav. I will never forget this match 😂
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan)
No matter who wins the super over , man of the🌟 match award should go to SKY. Not even in the wil🅺dest imagination with 9 runs required of the last 2 overs with 6 wickets in hand , no captain would have chosen the option to bowl Rinku and SKY in the 19th and 20th over.
— Prasanna (@prasannalara)
Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh, who had never bowled before in 94 T20Is between them, have just✅ come on with nine runs to defend in two overs against S🎐ri Lanka, taken two wickets each, and the game is going to a super over. Madness
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden)
Made it look like stealing Kandy from a baby 😉 SL needed 9 off 12, then death bowlers Rinku and SKY took the game to super over in which Washi gave just 2 runs and India won with ease. Very well played and congratulations 🍎on 3-0 👏🏼👏🏼
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14)
Well played boys! IND takes the series 3-0 wit🥀h an exciting Super Over win over Sri Lanka🇮🇳 What a game guys😍
— Shikhar Dhawan (@SDhawan25)
W4SHI DOES IT AGAIN! ✌️ in ✌️🌠 in the Super Over 🤩💫
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
3rd T20I: India won the super over and clinched the T20I seꦛries.
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC)
India win a nail-♍biting Super Over in the third T20I against Sri Lanka and clinch🎶 the series 3-0.
Scorecard:
— betvisa68.com (@CricketTimesHQ)
