Sri Lanka defeat India in Super Over as India fall short by 10 runs in dramatic finish

Sri Lanka A defeated India A in a tense Super Over thriller in Dambulla after an emotionally charged contest. Mathulan defended 16 runs in the Super Over, while India A’s fightback and controversies added drama to a closely fought tri-series match

Dambulla: Sri Lanka A finally found a way to get over the line against India A following a Super Over in an emotionally charged tri-series game here on Monday.

Tempers flared after Kugathas Mathulan, the Sri Lankan pacer with a slingy action, kept his calm under pressure to defend 16 runs against the destructive Indian duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge.

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Physical contact also occurred as Sooryavanshi was seen pushing a Sri Lankan player following the dramatic finish.

It was surprising that Sooryavanshi did not face the first ball of the Super Over.

In regulation time, left-arm pacer Arshad Khan bowled a yorker-filled final over to take the game into the Super Over after Sadeera Samarawickrama’s sublime 91 put Sri Lanka A on the cusp of victory.

Arshad, who played for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, conceded just four runs in the final over when the hosts needed only five runs.

Post the tied result, confusion prevailed over the outcome of the game, with India A captain Tilak Varma pushing the umpires to proceed with a Super Over. After due deliberation, the umpires changed their decision and allowed the Super Over.

However, Arshad Khan’s Super Over turned out to be expensive as he leaked 16 runs, including a wide and a no-ball.

Mathulan held his nerve under pressure and successfully defended against the Indian duo, which managed only nine runs.

Earlier, Sooryavanshi (21 off 14) once again fell after a flying start, but spin-bowling all-rounders Suryansh Shedge (72 off 66) and Vipraj Nigam (51 off 49) struck timely half-centuries to take India A to 265.

Sri Lanka A, who had gifted India A the game with a late batting collapse in the series opener, learned from that outing to take the match deep.

It was India A’s second loss in the competition, having also gone down against Afghanistan A.

Sooryavanshi started aggressively, smashing pacer Chamika Gunasekara for a six and a couple of boundaries, but off-spinner Sahan Arachchige induced an error as he hit across the line and was caught at point.

Tilak Varma (23) and Ruturaj Gaikwad (32) added 52 for the third wicket in nine overs, but Sri Lankan spinners struck back on a slow surface.

From 91 for 2, a middle-order collapse saw India A reduced to 143 for 7 when Vijaykanth Viyaskanth trapped Gaikwad plumb in front.

Tilak was dismissed when he attempted to smash Kugathas Mathulan through point but was caught by the fielder stationed there.

However, Mumbai’s Shedge and Uttar Pradesh’s Nigam—two multi-skilled players on the national selectors’ targeted list—added 104 runs for the eighth wicket, showcasing depth in India’s talent pipeline.

Both are capable batters and have done well for their respective state sides in domestic white-ball cricket, while also offering value as frontline spinners.

Shedge hit three fours and two sixes, while Nigam struck six fours. Judging the slowness of the pitch, the duo rotated strike smartly and emphasised running between the wickets while punishing loose deliveries.