Sri Lanka dethrones India in thriller

Kusal Mendis celebrates after scoring a half-century (50 runs) during the Asia Cup Twenty20 international cricket Super Four match against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai – AFP

Sri Lanka defeated giant India by six wickets with a ball remaining in the Asia Cup 2022’s key contest in Dubai yesterday.

Chasing a commanding 173 for 8 by India, Sri Lanka managed to overtake its giant neighbour with 174/4 thereby securing a likely finalist spot.

Sri Lanka’s openers Pathum NIssanka and Kusal Mendis achieved the highest first wicket stand of 97 against India as the duo mesmerised the Indian attack. Nissankae scored 52 off 37 balls with two 6s and four 4s and Mendis 57 off 37 balls with three 6s and four 4s. Thereafter, Sri Lanka saw a collapse with Charitha Asalanka continuing his dismal form out for a duck after a rash stroke and Dhanushka Gunathilakae going for one.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (25 off 17 balls inclusive of two 6s) and captain Dasun Shanaka 33 off 18 balls (one 6 and four 4s) steadied the innings to see Sri Lanka to a memorable victory and silenced a vociferous Indian crowd. India’s Y. Chahal bowled well with three for 34.

Earlier, India’s skipper Rohit Sharma smacked 72 off 41 balls as India made 173-8. Dilshan Madushanka claimed three wickets including Virat Kohli for a duck as late strikes by the Sri Lankan bowlers restricted India’s total in the final overs.

Rohit put on 97 runs with Suryakumar Yadav (34) after India, who lost their Super Four opener against Pakistan, lost two early wickets in a match they needed to win to stay in the hunt for a final spot.

Sri Lanka, who can all but seal a place in Sunday’s final with victory, won a crucial toss and put India into bat.

Kohli fell for a fourth ball duck after Madushanka, a left-arm quick who returned figures of 3-24, bowled the star batsman with a length delivery.

Kohli, who struck form after an extended batting slump with two successive half-centuries in the tournament, walked back to stunned silence from a sparse crowd dominated by Indian fans.

Rohit hit back with boundaries and smashed fast bowler Asitha Fernando for a six and four in successive balls to improve the scoring in the first six overs of the powerplay.

Pathum Nissanka celebrates after scoring his half-century – AFP / Captain Dasun Shanaka plays a shot – AFP

The captain kept up the attack with Suryakumar for company and raised his fifty in 32 balls with a boundary.

He cracked two more sixes and one four before picking out the fielder at deep point in an attempt to go for another big hit off Chamika Karunaratne.

Skipper Dasun Shanaka soon cut short Suryakumar’s stay with a slower ball that had the batsman caught at short third man and then got the dangerous Hardik Pandya for 17.

Madushanka struck twice in his final over as India lost four wickets in the final five overs.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa celebrates Sri Lanka’s win – AFP