Pathum Nissanka’s brilliant hundred wasn’t enough for Sri Lanka to usurp India, as they slipped to a gut-wrenching loss in the Super Over. So, India will go into the final of the Asia Cup against Pakistan, without having lost a single game in the tournament.
In the eventual analysis, it all came down to the Super Over. Arshdeep Singh dismissing Kusal Perera off the first ball more or less sealed the deal for India. He then removed Dasun Shanaka, with Sri Lanka getting only two runs on the board. There was still some drama and tension, as on the fourth ball, Arshdeep had won a caught-behind appeal against Shanaka.
However, Shanaka got it overturned via the review. The batter also tried to steal a single and was run out by the ‘keeper. But as the umpire had already given the batter out, it was considered a dead ball. It didn’t matter much. On the very next delivery, the Sri Lankan all-rounder was caught by Jitesh Sharma. Meanwhile, the left-armer gave an exhibition of his yorker skills, with those offerings being bowled on a wider line. Suryakumar Yadav provided the finishing touches by collecting three runs off the first ball.
Earlier, in the last two overs, Sri Lanka needed 23. Arshdeep once more bowled yorkers and short deliveries outside off to more or less keep a lid on the scoring rate. Although Shanaka cracking a boundary off the final ball of the 19th over gave Sri Lanka some hope of surpassing the target.
Unfortunately for Sri Lanka, Nisanka’s glance was caught by Varun Chakravarthy at fine-leg. Shanaka then got an edge that flew to the deep-third boundary. With three required off the last ball, Janith Liyanage could only add two runs to tie the score.
Sri Lanka did showcase a fair amount of skill in the chase. The duo of Kusal (58 runs) and Nissanka joined forces, with Sri Lanka struggling at 7 for 1, and proceeded to put the pressure back on the Indian bowlers.
Nisaanka smacked Arshdeep for a four and a six in the fourth over. Nissanka, who was clonked on the helmet by a well-directed short ball from Harshit Rana, went on to collect a couple of sixes in the same over. The highlight of his stroke-play was how he danced down the track to club the pace bowler over mid-wicket. Kusal too joined the fun as Sri Lanka raced away to 72 for 1 in the power play.
The carnage didn’t stop as Nissanka completed his fifty in a mere 25 deliveries. In the very next over, Kusal too crossed the 50-mark, pulling Kuldeep Yadav twice. Even Suryakumar’s huddle during the drinks break couldn’t lift the Indian bowling unit. The only action on display was a flurry of boundaries and sixes. Kusal was dismissed by Chakravarthy, India’s best bowler on show. Kuldeep followed it up by removing Charith Asalanka. Kamindu Mendis didn’t last long either. That was the exact juncture when India started to claw their way back into the game.
India would take enough positives from the game. The middle-order pair of Tilak Varma (49 not out) and Sanju Samson (39) made an impression. The wicketkeeper-bat’s straight hits off Wanindu Hasaranga gave enough evidence that he found some form in the game.
After Samson and Hardik Pandya fell, Tilak and Axar Patel (21 off 15) steered India past the 200-run mark. Axar’s pyrotechnics in the slog overs also would have brought cheers to the Indian camp.
The one worry-line for the Indian side is the form of Suryakumar. The skipper continued to struggle for batting rhythm, attempting a slew of shots through the on-side. Ultimately, he was dismissed for a 13-ball 12. Pandya also went off the field and bowled just one over.
The engine room of India’s total, though, was yet again Abhishek Sharma. With his trademark lofts and shots square of the wicket on either side, the southpaw once more turned out to be the fulcrum of the batting line-up. By the time he got out to Charith Asalanka, he had set the platform for the middle order to come into play.
Brief scores: India 202/5 in 20 overs (Abhishek Sharma 61, Tilak Varma 49*; Charith Asalanka 1-18) tied with Sri Lanka 202/5 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 107; Varun Chakaravarthy 1-31). Sri Lanka lost in the Super Over.
For more updates on the Asia Cup, follow RevSportz