Monday Sep 29, 2025
Monday Sep 29, 2025
Saturday, 27 September 2025 02:35 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
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| Pathum Nissanka scored his first century in T20Is and became the 4th Sri Lankan to do so |
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| Abishek Sharma scored his third successive fifty |
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| Kusal Perera helped Pathum Nissanka in a record stand for any wicket in T20I |
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| Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma added 66 off 42 balls |
DUBAI: Defending champions India maintained their unbeaten record in the ongoing Asia Cup when they pulled off a thrilling win over Sri Lanka in the Super Over after the final Group Fours match had ended in an exciting tie at the Dubai Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Buoyed by a maiden T20I century from Pathum Nissanka and a record 127-run partnership for any wicket in T20 Asia Cup between Nissanka and Kusal Perera, Sri Lanka matched India’s total of 202-5 by finishing with the identical score to force the game into a Super Over.
However, in the Super Over Sri Lanka managed just two runs for two wickets off 5 balls with Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka both being dismissed by Arshdeep Singh. India had an easy task of scoring 3 for victory and they did so off the first ball when Suryakumar Yadav hit Wanindu Hasaranga for three.
Player of the Match Nissanka played a blinder of a knock en route to becoming only the fourth Sri Lankan to score a century in this format after Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kusal Perera. He was struggling early on with his fitness and had difficulty running between the wickets. But he did not hold back and along with Perera added 127 off 70 balls which put India on the back foot. When they were going, Sri Lanka were well ahead and were scoring boundaries at will. Nothing seemed to be working for India till Kuldeep Yadav came and bowled a tight over. Next over, Varun Chakaravarthy got Perera’s wicket for 58 (32 balls, 8 fours, 1 six). Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis both struggled thus putting pressure on Nissanka who was deprived of the strike. Eventually Nissanka got to his 100 and fell to the last ball of the final over for a brilliant 107, scoring off 58 balls (7 fours, 6 sixes). A lucky outside-edge saw Sri Lanka need 3 off the last ball before it went to a Super Over.
India put into bat posted the first 200plus total of the current tournament with an excellent batting display that saw them score 202-5. Abhishek Sharma was once again the backbone of the innings as he got them off to a flier and notched up his third fifty in a row (61 off 31 balls, 8 fours, 2 sixes). He added 59 off 33 balls with his captain Suryakumar Yadav who once again couldn’t get going and was dismissed for 12. The pair departed after the powerplay but Sanju Samson and Tilak Varma got together in another partnership of 66 off 42 balls to ensure India had a solid base in the final 5 overs.
Varma batted through for 49* off 34 balls (4 fours, 1 six) and Axar Patel’s little cameo 21* off 15 balls (1 four, 1 six) got India over the 200-mark. It was only the second time a team had gone past the 200-run mark in the tournament. The only other instance took place at the same venue when India racked up 212-2 against Afghanistan in 2022. Sri Lanka were brilliant in the field but not so much with the ball.
