Tuesday, 07 October, 2025
Defending champions India survived Pathum Nissanka’s blistering century and a tense Super Over to beat Sri Lanka in a dead-rubber clash, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup on Friday.
With India already securing a place in Sunday’s final against Pakistan and Sri Lanka eliminated, the Super Fours encounter was technically academic — yet it turned out to be the most thrilling match of the tournament so far.
Sri Lanka matched India’s 202-5 total, thanks largely to Nissanka’s 107, the first individual hundred of this year’s competition, forcing a Super Over. However, the visitors managed only two runs before losing both wickets in five deliveries to Arshdeep Singh. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav then calmly struck three runs from the first delivery bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga to seal victory.
Earlier, put into bat, 20-over world champions India posted the tournament’s first 200-plus total, propelled by opener Abhishek Sharma’s third consecutive fifty. The world’s top-ranked T20 batter blazed 61 off 31 balls, maintaining his red-hot form.
Opening partner Shubman Gill fell cheaply for four, and Yadav’s slump in form continued with 12, but India were never in trouble as Abhishek raced to a 22-ball fifty. After his dismissal by Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, Tilak Varma (49 not out) and Sanju Samson (39) kept the scoreboard ticking and kept Sri Lankan bowlers under pressure.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for a duck in the first over but reached 72-1 after the powerplay. India rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, while Hardik Pandya bowled just one over.
Nissanka needed 25 balls to reach his fifty, while Kusal Perera added 58 to the total before spinner Varun Chakravarthy broke their 127-run stand. Nissanka raced to a 52-ball century but fell on the first ball of the final over, leaving Sri Lanka at 202-5 and sending the match into a Super Over.
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Defending champions India survived Pathum Nissanka’s blistering century and a tense Super Over to beat Sri Lanka in a dead-rubber clash, maintaining their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup on Friday.
With India already securing a place in Sunday’s final against Pakistan and Sri Lanka eliminated, the Super Fours encounter was technically academic — yet it turned out to be the most thrilling match of the tournament so far.
Sri Lanka matched India’s 202-5 total, thanks largely to Nissanka’s 107, the first individual hundred of this year’s competition, forcing a Super Over. However, the visitors managed only two runs before losing both wickets in five deliveries to Arshdeep Singh. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav then calmly struck three runs from the first delivery bowled by Wanindu Hasaranga to seal victory.
Earlier, put into bat, 20-over world champions India posted the tournament’s first 200-plus total, propelled by opener Abhishek Sharma’s third consecutive fifty. The world’s top-ranked T20 batter blazed 61 off 31 balls, maintaining his red-hot form.
Opening partner Shubman Gill fell cheaply for four, and Yadav’s slump in form continued with 12, but India were never in trouble as Abhishek raced to a 22-ball fifty. After his dismissal by Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka, Tilak Varma (49 not out) and Sanju Samson (39) kept the scoreboard ticking and kept Sri Lankan bowlers under pressure.
In reply, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for a duck in the first over but reached 72-1 after the powerplay. India rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, while Hardik Pandya bowled just one over.
Nissanka needed 25 balls to reach his fifty, while Kusal Perera added 58 to the total before spinner Varun Chakravarthy broke their 127-run stand. Nissanka raced to a 52-ball century but fell on the first ball of the final over, leaving Sri Lanka at 202-5 and sending the match into a Super Over.
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