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Rain claimed most of the second innings, but it didn't prevent a classic thriller. India triumphed in yet another entertaining match, brimming with action-packed excitement from both bat and ball. Sri Lanka once again commenced the powerplay with an impressive 55/0, only to lose their way as they did in the previous game.
Thanks primarily to Kusal Perera's half-century, they managed to reach 161/9, despite another late-inning collapse. The standout performer among the bowlers was Ravi Bishnoi, whose three-wicket haul effectively restrained the Lankans. Just three balls into the run chase, a brief but substantial rain shower halted play for approximately an hour. Upon resumption, the target was revised to 78 runs in eight overs.
Sanju Samson's dismissal for a golden duck initially stirred apprehension, but Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav quickly dispelled any concerns. They launched a relentless assault on the bowlers, with Jaiswal scoring a brisk 30 off 15 deliveries and Yadav adding 26 off 12. Despite both Jaiswal and Surya falling to catches grabbed by Dasun Shanaka, Hardik Pandya emerged as the decisive force, delivering a dynamic 22 off 9 balls. His contributions guided India to a commanding seven-wicket victory with nine balls to spare.
Kusal Perera finds form after recent struggles
After an unpredictable stint in LPL 2024, where his form oscillated between brilliance and mediocrity, the southpaw ultimately produced a notable half-century. This pivotal innings played a crucial role in Sri Lanka reaching a nearly competitive total of 161.
Ravi Bishnoi weaves spellbinding performance with masterful bowling
Despite having secured only a solitary wicket in his last quartet of T20Is, enduring a painful bruise from the previous match, and suffering an injury beneath his left eye while attempting a return catch, the resolute and astute leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi exhibited remarkable tenacity. He delivered an impeccably precise and accurate spell, characterized by extraordinary consistency, ultimately claiming three pivotal wickets. His scalps included a well-judged LBW of the set Pathum Nissanka and successive dismissals of all-rounders Dasun Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga, both bowled out in consecutive deliveries.
Jaiswal's fiery knock propels India to victory
Despite the rain truncating the match and reducing its length, it did little to quell Jaiswal's relentless fervour for striking the ball. His scintillating blitz not only galvanized India's innings but also propelled them to a series-clinching victory with a breathtaking 15-ball, 30-run performance.
Losing skipper, Charith Asalanka
I am really disappointed with the way we batted at the death. We must really improve. This pitch, when the ball gets older, it gets tough to bat. As professional cricketers, we have to do better. We were behind by 15-18 runs. Weather also played its part. It's not easy to bowl 8 overs with a wet outfield.
Winning skipper, Suryakumar Yadav
We spoke about this before the start of the tournament - what brand of cricket we want to play. This is the template we want to go ahead with. With the weather around, anything below 160 would have been nice. Rain helped us. The way the boys batted was wonderful. We'll sit and decide (when asked if they'll test their bench strength). Very happy for the boys. Showed a lot of character in tough situations.
Player of the Match, Ravi Bishnoi
The pitch was a little different from yesterday. It was turning a bit. Today, in the first innings it was helping the spinners. I stick to my plans. I just love bowling the wrong 'uns. It's a good responsibility to have (to bowl in the death), it means the captain and the management trust in me.
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