IND vs SL T20 2024: India forge spectacular comeback in third T20 to win in Super Over, clean-sweep Sri Lanka series

The Indian men’s cricket team beat Sri Lanka in the Super Over of the final match of the 2024 T20 series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday and blanked the hosts 3-0.

Batting first, India got 137/9 on the board with Shubman Gill scoring 39. Despite Sri Lanka cruising for most of the run-chase thanks to Kusal Perera’s 46, India made a strong comeback in the final two overs to force a run-chase.

Washington Sundar restricted Sri Lanka to 2/2 in the Super Over and India won the match with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav hitting a boundary off the first ball.

The Men in Blue, who were asked to bat first by Sri Lankan captain Charith Asalanka, suffered a disastrous start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (10) was dismissed in the second over while Sanju Samson registered another duck in the following over.

India lost Rinku Singh (1) next while Suryakumar was dismissed for 8 as India were reduced to 30/4 in 5.4 overs.

Shubman Gill played a handy knock of 39 (37 balls) to provide momentary respite for the team. Riyan Parag added 26 off 18 balls while Washington Sundar scored 25 off 18 to add impetus to the Indian innings as they finished with a total of 137/9 on the scoreboard.

Maheesh Theekshana was the pick among the Lankan bowlers and he registered a spell of 3/28 here to dismiss Jaiswal, Rinku and Sundar. Wanindu Hasaranga also picked up two wickets.

The hosts began the run-chase on a flying note when Pathum Nissanka shared a 58-run opening stand with Kusal Mendis. Nissanka, leading run-scorer of the series, was dismissed after scoring 26 (27 balls) while Mendis made 43 off 41.

India got a small glimmer of hope with Sundar picking up two wickets in consecutive deliveries. With Sri Lanka needing only nine off the last 12 deliveries, India made the bold call of bowling Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav at the death.

Bowling for the first time in T20 Internationals, both Rinku and Suryakumar picked up two wickets each to stun the hosts and force a Super Over as the scores were tied after 20 overs.

Rinku was also successful in sending Kusal Perera, who scored 46 off 34, back to the pavilion.

Washington Sundar bowled for India in the Super Over where he dismissed Perera and Nissanka in successive deliveries to give the visitors a target of only three runs. Suryakumar swept Theekshana for a boundary off the very first ball to complete a spectacular comeback victory.

IND vs SL 3rd T20 2024 scores: India 137/9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39; Maheesh Theekshana 3/28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/29) beat Sri Lanka 137/8 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 46, Kusal Mendis 43; Rinku Singh 2/3) in Super Over.