Dubai, September 26 (Reuters) – Defending champions India survived Patum Nissanka’s lightning hundred and some intense super about drama before beating Sri Lanka in a dead rubber to retain their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup on Friday. As India had already eliminated their place in Sunday’s final against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the Super Fours collision was merely academic importance, but it was the most exciting match of this year’s tournament. Sri Lanka gave a good version of themselves and linked with India’s 202-5 to force the Super after Nissanka (107) hit the first individual hundred of this year’s tournament. However, Sri Lanka scored only two runs in the Super Over before losing both wickets in five deliveries from Arshdeep Singh. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav took three runs from the first delivery of Wanindu Hasaranga to seal their victory in a factual way. Earlier, in the bat, the world champions of 20 resorts, India, picked up the tournament’s first 200-plus total driving opener Abhishek Sharma’s third consecutive fifty in the tournament. Abhishek, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, maintained its red-hot shape with a healthy 61 of 31 balls. The opening partner Shubman Gill fell for four and captain Suryakumar’s (12) slump in shape continued, but India did not really suffer as Abhishek rushed to a fifty of 22 balls. Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka removed Abhishek, but Tilak Varma, who did not make up 49, and Sanju Samson, 39, maintained the pressure on Sri Lankan bowlers. In their chase, Sri Lanka Kusal Mendis lost to a duck in the first time, but crossed up to 72-1 after the six PowerPlay overs. India rests the spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, while Hardik Pandya bowled only one before leaving the field. Nissanka needed 25 balls to set up his fifty and Kusal Perera (58) could not be denied his half century. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy broke the stand of 127 runs when he rejected Perera. Nissanka rushed to a hundred of 52 balls, but fell in the first ball of the last ear, which ended with Sri Lanka, also at 202-5 that forced the Super Over. (Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; Editing by Pritha Sarkar)
Cricket India overcomes Nissanka Ton and Super about drama to take out Sri Lanka
