Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard

In a thrilling climax that would keep any cricket enthusiast at the edge of their seat, the Indian men’s cricket team beat Sri Lanka in a Super Over at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium to complete an astonishing 30 whitewash in the 2024 T20 series. 

The match was the last one and witnessed India spring back from the jaws of defeat to win an edge-of-the-seat thriller that will be etched in Indian cricket history! So, let’s explore the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard.

Super Over Row Shakes India vs Sri Lanka ODI: Umpires Overlook ICC Rule, Tied Game Goes Unresolved

In a turn of events that has surprised everybody from cricket insiders to spectators worldwide, the opening ODI game between Sri Lanka and India culminated in a tie—albeit without the regular Super Over. Even though both teams ended with a score of 230, the game did not follow the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) playing regulations, which specify a Super Over in the event of a tie in 50-over matches. The umpires instead called off the game as a tie to the dismay of many.

The Mystery of the Missing Super Over

The game, which concluded on Friday, had India and Sri Lanka tied at 230 runs apiece after 50 overs, leading into a thrilling Super Over. However, rather than proceed with the standard protocol, on-field umpires Joel Wilson and Raveendra Wimalasiri took the confusing decision to end the game as a tie, with no Super Over used to find a winner.

According to the ICC’s playing conditions, the regulation explicitly reads:

If the scores of the teams are tied after both innings have been played, a Super Over shall be played. If the Super Over is also tied, further Super Overs shall be played until a winner is determined. If it is not feasible to play the required Super Overs, the match is tied.

However, on this occasion too, neither the ICC nor the Indian team management made any comment or clarification on the umpire’s watch, leaving everything mysterious.

India’s Roller-Coaster Run Chase

The first ODI opening fixture had India in a spot of trouble, chasing a paltry target of 231 on a dangerous pitch at Colombo. Rohit Sharma, however, turned it around with a captain’s knock, leading from the front with a composed 58 off 47 balls. On a surface where the ball spun savagely and variable bounce made batting a horror, Sharma’s solidity kept India’s hopes alive, taking the team to 71/1 after 10 overs.

The remainder of the Indian batting order struggled against the spin attack spearheaded by Sri Lanka’s army of spinners. Batsmen were repeatedly beaten and gotten out, never able to decipher the turns or lines of Lankan bowlers. Charith Asalanka, the Sri Lankan captain, pulled a thorn in the flesh with back-to-back wickets, disrupting India’s chase and playing a crucial role in taking the game to its climactic conclusion.

Let’s head over to the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team Vs India National Cricket Team Match Scorecard.

A Rocky Start: India’s Early Woes

India’s path to victory was not smooth. Requested to bat first by Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka, the Men in Blue got off to a poor start. In less than the first 6 overs, India were reduced to a miserable 30/4. Yashasvi Jaiswal was out for only 10, with Sanju Samson getting out off a duck. Rinku Singh could score only 1, and Suryakumar Yadav was out for a miserly 8.

It seemed strangely familiar to India’s initial struggles in previous T20s, such as the 2009 T20 World Cup final, where India was able to come back from sticky situations. But the game wasn’t lost yet – enter Shubman Gill.

Recap Of The Most Nail Biting Super Over 

Shubman Gill and Middle-Order Rebellion

The Punjab youngster displayed maturity beyond his years, posting a courageous 39 off 37. In addition to Riyan Parag (26 off 18) and Washington Sundar (25 off 18), India was able to reach a total of 137/9, a figure that seemed a lot more competitive than one had initially hoped for.

Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana was the bowler’s choice, taking 3/28, including the crucial scalps of Jaiswal, Rinku, and Sundar. Wanindu Hasaranga also chipped in with 2 wickets, but India had somehow held their own.

Sri Lanka’s Charge: A Run Chase That Nearly Was

Sri Lanka’s reaction was off to a flyer, with openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis putting on a good 58-run stand. Nissanka, the series’ leading run-scorer, scored 26, while Mendis added 43 from 41 deliveries. As the required rate came down, it looked as if Sri Lanka had the trophy in one hand.

But, as was the case with India’s historic win over Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup, when the team staged a string of stunning turnarounds, India wasn’t about to go down without a fight. Sundar struck twice in two successive deliveries, cutting Sri Lanka to 117/5 with only 9 runs required off 12 balls.

Death Over Drama: Rinku and Suryakumar’s Magic

In a daring strategic shift, the great MS Dhoni, India handed the ball to Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav during the death overs. The pair baffled the Lankan batsmen, with Rinku sending the inexhaustible Kusal Perera back to the pavilion for 46 from 34 balls. It was as if history was repeating itself, reminding everyone of how in the 2007 T20 World Cup, unexpected heroes in the last overs had helped India win, sending the crowd and commentators into raptures.

With 9 runs needed off the last 12 balls, Sri Lanka’s momentum was lost, and the game was reduced to a Super Over.

The Super Over Showdown: A New Hero Emerges

In perhaps the most thrilling Super Overs in recent history, Washington Sundar bowled a match-winning spell for India. He limited Sri Lanka to only 2 runs in the Super Over by getting rid of both Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka off back-to-back balls. India, with just 3 runs required to win, turned to their skipper, Suryakumar Yadav.

The rest, as they say, is history. Yadav, with the composure of an old campaigner, cleaned up Maheesh Theekshana for a boundary off the very first ball, securing an unforgettable win for the Indian team.

The Final Score: A Super Over Thriller!

It was a match that had it all — early upsets, heroic comeback, death-over drama, and a pulsating Super Over — and yet, India found itself winning through with a tally of 137/9 off 20 overs, and the hosts responding to match them with 137/8. And in the ultimate decision, there was a Super Over, when India’s figure of 3 runs proved good enough to snatch a historic series win by 30.

IND vs SL 3rd T20, 2024 — Final Scores:

  • India: 137/9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Maheesh Theekshana 3/28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/29)
  • Sri Lanka: 137/8 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 46, Kusal Mendis 43; Rinku Singh 2/3)
  • India won in Super Over

A Historic Moment: India’s Preeminence in the T20 Format

This win adds another chapter to the rich T20 history of India. Similar to the memorable 2007 T20 World Cup triumph, this victory series reaffirms India’s supremacy in the shortest form of the game. The team’s resilience to come back under pressure, as witnessed in this match, is a reflection of the depth of the team’s talent pool.

With the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and Washington Sundar rising to the occasion at their moment of greatest need, India has again shown that they can step up to any challenge — and maybe, just maybe, start dreaming of another World Cup victory.

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