Dubai, (UNI) A blistering century from Pathum Nissanka and a chaotic finish turned an otherwise inconsequential Super 4 clash of the Asia Cup 2025 into a nail-biting spectacle, before India edged out Sri Lanka via Super Over here today.
Both teams finished their 20 overs locked at 202, forcing the tie-breaker. Sri Lanka, batting first, were rocked immediately as Arshdeep Singh struck with his opening ball — Kusal Perera slicing a full delivery to Rinku Singh at sweeper cover.
Kamindu Mendis scratched a single, leaving Dasun Shanaka on strike in a bizarre sequence of play that had players and umpires in animated discussion. On Arshdeep’s fourth delivery, Shanaka was initially given caught behind, with India celebrating. But the Sri Lankan skipper had already set off for a run, only to be caught short by Sanju Samson’s direct hit.
The drama deepened when UltraEdge revealed no contact with the bat, meaning Shanaka survived the caught-behind appeal. However, since the on-field umpire had already declared him out, the ball was deemed dead — sparing Shanaka from the run-out that followed.
Arshdeep, unfazed by the confusion, kept bowling with accuracy, conceding only a wide before finally dismissing Shanaka off the fifth ball, brilliantly caught in the deep by Jitesh Sharma. Sri Lanka’s Super Over closed at a paltry two runs.
India required three for victory, and Captain Suryakumar Yadav wasted no time, driving Wanindu Hasaranga’s first ball through covers and running three with Shubman Gill to wrap up the contest. Arshdeep’s Super Over figures — five balls, two runs, two wickets — sealed his place as the match-winner.
Earlier, India’s total of 202 for five was built on Abhishek Sharma’s fiery 61 off 31 balls, peppered with eight boundaries and two sixes. Sanju Samson’s 39 and Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 49 steadied the innings, while Axar Patel’s 21 not out ensured a big finish. Sri Lanka’s bowlers shared the wickets, with Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka striking once each, while Dushmantha Chameera accounted for Hardik Pandya with a sharp return catch.
Sri Lanka’s reply was defined by Nissanka’s majestic 107 off 58 balls, his maiden T20I ton, decorated with seven fours and six sixes. He shared a 127-run stand with Kusal Perera (58 off 32), which put India on the defensive. But Chakaravarthy’s dismissal of Perera, followed by Kuldeep’s removal of Asalanka and Arshdeep’s strike against Kamindu, pulled the match back.
The crucial breakthrough came in the 19th over when Harshit Rana had Nissanka caught at short fine-leg, ending his sensational knock. With 12 required in the final over, Shanaka (22 not out off 11) fought hard, but Rana conceded only 11, leaving the scores tied at 202 and sending the contest into the dramatic Super Over.
With this victory, India extended their remarkable record in tied T20Is. This is the sixth win in as many tied finishes for India — five via Super Over and one via Bowl Out.
Additionally, they were involved in a rain-affected tie against New Zealand in Napier in 2022, where scores were tied under DLS before the match was called off due to rain. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, suffered their fourth loss in six Super Overs.
India’s victory gave them added momentum ahead of September 28 final, while Sri Lanka return home after providing a stirring fight that turned a dead rubber into a contest to remember.
India beat SL in Super Over thriller in Asia Cup
