Lanka’s great escape to defeat: Starring Washington, Surya and Rinku

Synopsis: After a sensational collapse, where they lost 7 wickets for 22 runs in chase of 137, Sri Lanka lose in Super Over as India complete series-sweep in style.

El Collapsico

These are early days for Suryakumar Yadav as captain, but he is already making all the right impressions, reinforcing the faith shown by the selectors and head coach Gautam Gambhir for the role ahead of Hardik Pandya. For the first time in this series, on a pitch that had something for the bowlers, especially the spinners, defending a paltry 137, India managed to tie the game and take it to the Super Overs.

At 108/1 at the end of 15 overs, Sri Lanka had the game in their bag. Or so one thought. Instead, they self-destructed, losing their next seven wickets for just 22 runs. In three successive matches, their batting unit has endured three collapses, and this one was perhaps the most soul-crushing of the lot. It was Kusal Mendis’ dismissal in the second ball of the 16th over that changed the course of the innings for the hosts. In the last four overs, with eight wickets in hand, Sri Lanka needed 23.

Washington Sundar’s twin strikes of Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka made Sri Lanka press the panic button. But a wayward over from Khaleel Ahmed, where he sent down 5 wides in an 11-ball over, reduced the equation to 9 off 12 balls. Still it looked like a routine chase with six wickets in hand. But off Rinku Singh’s part-time off-spin, they lost Kusal Perera and Ramesh Mendis. With six needed off the last over, Suryakumar continued to be brave by bringing himself on. It was a huge punt, but it paid off as he took two wickets in as many balls, conceding just 5 runs. Out of nowhere India managed to change the tide. Context and opposition notwithstanding it was as good as the final in Barbados

Pallekele: India’s Suryakumar Yadav with teammates celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis during the 3rd T20 International cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Pallekele, Tuesday, July 30, 2024.(PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Sri Lanka’s ordeal was over when they made just two runs in the Super Over, a target India polished off in one ball.

Wasting opportunities

With the series already in the kitty, Tuesday was more about giving opportunities to those in the bench as they made four changes to the XI. But the one who failed to grab the opportunity was Sanju Samson. For a second successive match, he had the chance to firmly assert his place in the side. With Shubman Gill returning, he was demoted to No 3, a slot he so used to in the IPL. Instead, he ended up being debutant seamer Chamindu Wickramasinghe’s first wicket as he held out at deep cover off the fourth ball. With Rishabh Pant high in the pecking order and Dhruv Jurel waiting in the wings, time is running out for Samson.

Like Samson, Rinku too missed an opportunity. Like Samson, he too went for big shot, this time off Maheesh Theekshana, but could only sky it to Matheesha Pathirana at mid-on. Having found no answers to India’s top-order in the previous two matches, Sri Lanka’s attack was on the money here. Apart from Samson and Rinku, Yashasvi Jaiswal and captain Suryakumar Yadav too didn’t make an impact. At the end of the powerplay India had 30 on board, which was a decent total on the surface, but they had lost four wickets.

From thereon, it was up to Gill to build with Shivam Dube, Riyan Parag and Washington Sundar. A lot rode on Dube, the designated six-hitter, who can change the course of the game. With the hosts having as many as four spinners — Theekshana, Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis and Kamindu Mendis –the match-ups favoured Dube. But not once in his 14-ball stay did Dube come close to breaking the shackles before being dismissed by Ramesh.

With 5 down inside 9 overs, Gill would drop anchor and Riyan Parag would construct a cameo. For the first time in the night India seized some control before Hasaranga removed both in the 16th over. From there on, Washington Sundar played his part, bringing out the sweeps and reverse-sweeps, to fetch 25 crucial runs that allowed India to be in the game as they ended up with 137/9. And then he applied the finishing touches in the Super Over.

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