India wins against Sri Lanka in Super Over to seal series 3-0

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India wins against Sri Lanka

The 3rd match of the T20I series between India and Sri Lanka on 30th July 2024 (Wednesday) at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium concluded on a thrilling note. Team India clinched the series with a whitewash of 3-0 by winning against Sri Lanka in a super-over contest.

Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka’s decision to bowl first turned out to be favorable for his team as the bowlers restricted India to a total of 137-9 in 20 overs.

Chasing a target of 138 runs, Sri Lankan batters just required 30 runs to achieve from just 30 balls with 9 wickets in hand. Unfortunately, Asalanka’s led side collapsed once again by losing 7 wickets in the last 5 overs, which eventually shifted the T20 contest into a super over game.

Indian all-rounder Washington Sundar bagged the “Player of the Match” award and captain Suryakumar Yadav was granted the “Player of the Series” award.

Furthermore, you would be shocked to know that Sri Lanka after this defeat set a humiliating and unwanted record of having the most defeats in T20Is. Whereas, India ranks in the second position to achieve the most number of wins against a particular team in T20Is.

Let’s find out the interesting highlights of the match and Suryakumar Yadav’s last-over drama that led to an exciting Super Over contest to understand the reasons why Sri Lanka lost to India.

Highlights of Sri Lanka vs India 3rd T20I 2024 Match: A Race To Super Over Contest

Here are the special moments of the India vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20I match you need to know highlighted with the super over contest:

1. Shubman Gill: Highest Run Scorer for his side

Indian vice-captain Shubman Gill was the highest-scoring batter for his side with a 37-ball-39-run knock, which included 3 fours batting at a strike rate of 105.41. However, these four batters weren’t able to score above 30 runs:

  • Riyan Parag: 26 runs from 18 balls (including 1 four and 2 sixes)
  • Washington Sundar: 25 runs from 18 balls (including 2 fours and 1 six)
  • Shivam Dube: 13 runs from 14 balls
  • Yashasvi Jaiswal: 10 runs from 9 balls (including 2 fours)

Whereas, the top batters such as Rinku Singh (1 run from 2 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (8 runs from 9 balls — including 1 four)  managed to accumulate a single-digit score. Despite Washington Sundar playing his first match of the series, his late cameo helped India reach a total of 137 runs.

2. Sanju Samson’s Unfortunate Golden Duck:

Similar to the previous match, Sanju Samson wasn’t able to make use of his opportunity to prove his potential as he was unfortunate to once again get dismissed for a duck (0 from 4 balls).

3. Sri Lankan Bowlers’ Strong Comeback:

After an ineffective bowling performance in the first two matches, these Sri Lankan bowlers made a massive comeback and achieved impressive bowling figures:

  • Maheesh Theekshana: 3-28 in 4 overs.
  • Wanindu Hasaranga: 2-29 in 4 overs.
  • Ramesh Mendis: 1-11 in 2 overs.
  • Chamindu Wickramasinghe: 1-17 in 4 overs.
  • Asitha Fernando: 1-11 in 2 overs.

4.Nissanka- Mendis sets the Stage:

Sri Lankan opening batters Pathum Nissanka (26 runs from 27 balls —including 5 fours) and Kusal Mendis (43 runs from 41 balls—including 4 fours) achieved a 58-run partnership. The duo batters started slowly by scoring just 4 runs in the first two overs but steadily picked up by scoring crucial boundaries. However, Indian leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi was successful in breaking a dangerous opening partnership.

5. Kusal Perera’s Attempt in Vain: 

Sri Lanka’s total after 10 overs was 61-1 and still needed 77 runs to score in the last 60 balls with Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis present on the crease. Surprisingly, Kusal Perera batted with an aggressive mode and struck five fours in the next five overs, thereby reaching a score of 46 runs from 34 balls. Once again Ravi Bishnoi was successful in grabbing another crucial wicket of the in-form batter by dismissing Kusal Mendis at 110-2 in 15.2 overs.

6. A Similar Equation to T20 World Cup 2024 Finals: 30 runs required from 30 balls

Both Perera and Mendis reduced the equation to 30 runs required from 30 balls, which is the same situation where Team India under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy won the T20 World Cup 2024 finals against South Africa. But this time, the playing XI was without the heroes of that final match such as Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya.

Here is how Team India’s bowlers dismantled the Sri Lankan batting line-up in the last 5 overs of the match:

  • 16th Over: Ravi Bishnoi ( 7 runs and a wicket).
  • 17th Over: Washington Sundar (2 runs and 2 wickets).
  • 18th Over: Khaleel Ahmed (12 runs).
  • 19th Over: Rinku Singh (3 runs and 2 wickets).
  • 20th Over: Suryakumar Yadav (5 runs and 2 wickets).

7. Suryakumar Yadav’s Last Over:

As a part-time bowler and Team India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav took a bold decision to bowl the last over. In a pressurized moment of the match, SKY took the responsibility to defend 6 runs from the last 6 balls.

Surprisingly, the Indian skipper ensured not conceding any runs in the first three balls and grabbed two consecutive wickets. As a result, Sri Lanka required 6 runs to score from 3 balls. However, Asitha Fernando took a single run, and four runs by Chamindu Wickramasinghe in the next three balls which resulted in the super over coming into action to decide the winner of the match.

8. Super Over: A Trap for Sri Lankan Batters

As Sri Lanka was set to bat first in the super over, the Indian spin-bowing all-rounder Washington Sundar started with a wide delivery. Shockingly, Sundar wrapped up Sri Lanka’s innings for just 2 runs in 3 balls by taking back-to-back wickets of Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka.

9. India’s Batting in Super over A cakewalk for Suryakumar Yadav

The Indian cricket team required just 3 runs to score in the super over and Suryakumar Yadav facing the first ball bowled by Maheesh Theekshana, finished the match in style by striking a four.

Notable Records from Sri Lanka vs India 3rd T20I Match 2024

Here are recent records you need to know after the completion of Sri Lanka vs India 3rd T20I match 2024:

1. Most Player of Series Awards in T20Is: 

Suryakumar Yadav has achieved 5 Player of the Series award in T20Is, which is the 2nd most by any player after Virat Kohli (7 awards from 2010 to 2024). Since Kohli has retired from T20Is, it is a golden opportunity for Suryakumar to surpass the King’s record.

2. Most Number of Wins against a Team in T20Is:

Out of 32 matches, India secured 22 wins against Sri Lanka, which is the 2nd highest by any team in T20Is. Currently, Pakistan ranks in the leading position by winning 23 out of 44 matches against New Zealand in the shortest format.

3. Most Number of Defeats by any Team in T20Is:

When considering the super overs, Sri Lanka with 105 losses, faced the most number of defeats in T20Is, which is a disappointing record for the national cricket team. 

Conclusion:

Finally, Team India entered a new era by achieving its first success under Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy and Gautam Gambhir’s guidance as Head Coach. As the series was already sealed, the Indian cricket team underwent four changes in its playing XI to test the strength of the bench players.

Also, Suryakumar’s unique approach of allowing the part-time bowlers to bowl the last two overs, including his crucial 20th over, and achieving successful outcomes, proves him a perfect successor to Rohit Sharma as a T20I skipper. As the T20I series concluded with a dominant win, the Indian cricket team under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy will aim to secure a victory in the upcoming 3-match ODI series that starts on 2nd August at R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo