In a low-scoring thriller, India won the third T20 International in Super Over to clinch a 3-0 series sweep, which didn’t seem conceivable in the first 38 overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh proved to be the “men with golden arm” as Sri Lanka’s narrative of mysterious collapses continued.
In pursuit of a 138-run target on a rank-turner, Sri Lanka was coasting along at 110 for 1 in 15.1 overs when they got lost again, for the third time in four days, and ended up tied at 137 for 8.
In the most recent occurrence, the hosts lost seven wickets in 4.5 overs for 27 runs.
The Indians were considerably more upbeat in the Super Over after they had surprisingly lost the regular match. Washington Sundar took both wickets while only allowing two runs to be scored, and the captain duly finished the match with a first ball sweep shot.
There is no praise high enough for the new Indian captain, who took two wickets in his opening two balls after coming into the bowl in the 20th over with six runs to defend.
This came about after another part-timer, Rinku, rolled his arm over for the first time in a T20 international to take a handful of wickets, including Kusal Perera (46), when Lanka just needed to score nine runs in twelve balls.
With just three runs lost in the 19th over, India’s seemingly hopeless match took an unexpected turn around following Khaleel Ahmed’s careless 18th over, which featured six wides.
However, things appeared differently when Kusal Mendis (43), Pathum Nissanka (26), and Perera (46), who had stands of 58 and 52 for the first and second wicket stands, were in cruise control.
But just as winning becomes second nature to the Islanders, loss has also been ingrained in their culture.
Regarding Surya, he was unbeatable in his debut series as captain and the reason head coach Gautam Gambhir grinned so broadly when Rinku was introduced in the 19th over and replaced Perera.
On a pitch that did not lend itself to a slam-bang strategy, the visitors managed a respectable 137 for 9, but earlier on, Lankan spinners caught Indian hitters off guard on a track that featured tremendous turn and inconsistent bounce.
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka employed their four-pronged spin attack to considerable effect, limiting the run-flow and also taking wickets at regular intervals, although premier slinger Matheesha Pathirana was unable to bowl due to a shoulder injury incurred while fielding.
After India was at one point struggling at 48 for 5, Shubman Gill (39 off 37 balls) and Riyan Parag (26 off 18 balls) contributed 54 runs for the sixth wicket, but most of them would put their hands up and acknowledge that the shot-selection left a lot to be desired.
After scoring his second duck in as many games, Sanju Samson will undoubtedly be bothered by the way he was dismissed.
Samson had another chance as Rishabh Pant was rested, but he was trapped in deep cover by debutant seamer Chamindu Wickramasinghe’s ferocious slog (1/17 in 4 overs).
After an incredible debut season, Rinku Singh (1) is going through a difficult time. The left-hander’s mistake, failing to reach the pitch of the length bowl while attempting for a huge hit, proved to be his undoing.
Shivam Dube (13) was mostly unable to read the deliveries that deflected away from him when Suryakumar’s staple drive behind the square found a fielder. For Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana (3/28) was the most impressive bowler.
During this period, Gill controlled his innate tendency to attack, and Parag displayed flashes of his batting ability as they temporarily complemented one another.
The highlights of Indian batting came from Gill’s inside-out lofted boundary over covers and Riyan’s consecutive maximums against Wanindu Hasaranga, both of whom fell while attempting glory shots.
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