India defeat Sri Lanka in Super Over to sweep T20 series

PALLEKEL (Agencies):  India’s bowlers struck late blows before the world champions beat Sri Lanka in a Super Over in the final Twenty20 of their three-match series in Pallekele on Tuesday for a clean sweep under new coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav. Washington Sundar, who claimed 2-23 earlier, bagged two wickets in the sudden death scenario as Sri Lanka managed only two runs in four balls and the tourists completed the win in style with Suryakumar hitting a boundary from the first ball. Earlier, chasing 138 for a consolation win on a crumbling pitch, Sri Lanka lost quick wickets after Kusal Mendis made a steady 43 to put them within touching distance of victory. But with nine needed off 12 balls, Kusal Perera fell to Rinku Singh for 46 and Ramesh Mendis departed shortly after, and the hosts lost two more wickets in Suryakumar’s final over where they needed six to win. Chamindu Wickramasinghe held his nerve and scampered for two runs off the last delivery to force a Super Over but Sri Lanka’s challenge faded from there.

Asked to bat first after rain delayed the toss, a much-changed India lost half their side for 48 runs inside nine overs as Maheesh Theekshana claimed two wickets to spark the collapse but Shubman Gill steadied the ship with a patient 39. Vice-captain Gill, back in the team after missing the last match with a neck issue, was stumped while attempting to charge Wanindu Hasaranga and the spinner had Riyan Parag caught in the deep for 26 three balls later to leave India at 105-7. Theekshana then bowled out Sundar for 25 in the final over and Mendis ran out Mohammed Siraj to restrict the tourists to only 137-9. The teams will play a three-game one-day international series in Colombo starting on Friday, with Test and ODI skipper Rohit Sharma and batting stalwart Virat Kohli returning to the Indian squad. The duo, along with all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, had quit T20s following India’s World Cup triumph last month. Sri Lanka named new T20 captain Charith Asalanka as skipper of the ODI team earlier on Tuesday, replacing Kusal Mendis.

Brief scores:

India 137 for 9 (Gill 39, Parag 26, Theekshana 3-28, Hasaranga 2-29) tied with Sri Lanka 137 for 8 (Perera 46, Kusal Mendis 43, Rinku 2-3, Suryakumar 2-5).