Arshdeep's masterclass helps India pull off heist
Nissanka's ton got Sri Lanka within sight of victory but the remaining batters couldn't quite get them across the line
Nissanka's ton got Sri Lanka within sight of victory but the remaining batters couldn't quite get them across the line
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
11:24pm And...breathe. A crazy game to close out the Super Four, and the stakes get taken up a notch in a couple of days' time, when India clash with Pakistan in the final. We hope you enjoyed our coverage, and would love to have your company on Sunday too. Until then, from all of us here at ESPNcricinfo, it is goodbye!
Re: the confusion around the non-dismissal of Shanaka after the review, the umpires may have just gotten it right. Law 20.1.1.3 says the ball will be deemed dead from the instant of the incident causing the dismissal. So, since the umpire gave it out caught-behind, the ball was considered to be dead from the moment the umpire thought Shanaka edged it, which made the run-out that happened after it, a moot point. We might hear more about it in the coming days.
Pathum Nissanka is the Player of the Match.
Suryakumar Yadav, India captain: It felt like a final (laughs). The boys showed a lot of character after the first half in the second innings. Told them to play this like a semi-final. Get everyone close in, have good energy and then let's see what happens. Good to be on the winning side. To have that start, and then someone like Sanju and Tilak batting that way and taking the tempo ahead from where Abhishek left (cannot say from where I left it)âŠSanju not opening, going down the order, taking responsibility and Tilak taking confidence and responsibility, that was good to see. Arshdeep has been in that situation a lot of time and he has delivered for us. I only told him to back your own plans and not to think about anything. We are already in the finals, but have your own plans and execute it. I have seen him execute his plans, do really well for India and his IPL franchise. His confidence says it all and no one but Arshdeep for that Super Over. Let's have a good recovery tonight. Let us not think about that (the final) right now. Few boys had a lot of cramps today. Have a good recovery day tomorrow and we will turn up the same way we did today. What I wanted from the boys, just trying to execute their plans, be clear and not to fear, that was really important and I am sure everyone got what they wanted. Happy to be in the final.
Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka captain: It was a fabulous game, of course. I think we were in the game and we were handling the game pretty nicely until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those really nice overs. It was unbelievable hitting (by Nissanka and Perera). They (India) got really experienced bowlers but they (Nissanka and Perera) batted extremely well. (On message before the Super Over) I just said to score as many runs as you can (smiles). Lot of positives throughout the Asia Cup. We have been playing good cricket but we could not manage to win in the last two games. As captain, lot of positives in the side.
11:05pm And, we have a result. Finally. After more than four hours of cricket, and after more than 40 overs of cricket. India, for most of the second innings (in the actual game) felt out of it. Nissanka and Perera had pummeled them into submission, but India did what all champion teams do: they hung on, and they clung to anything and everything they could find.
Which, of course, led to a Super Over. And over there, India flexed their muscles, and showed their wares under pressure. Arshdeep bowled magnificently, and despite some confusion and chaos, India kept SL down to just a couple of runs. SKY then iced that meagre chase off the first ball he faced, and India, if they did not have momentum before, now have plenty of it heading into the final.
No Abhishek for India. Hasaranga to bowl. SKY to open, alongside Gill.
MD Shanaka c sub b Arshdeep Singh
MDKJ Perera c sub b Arshdeep Singh
Okay. Looks like Shanaka and Perera are coming out to bat. Arshdeep with the ball. Over the wicket
10:41pm Phew. What a game. And we are still not done. There was drama at the start. there was drama through the middle and there was drama right at the end too. Nissanka, of course, was the star of the show. His majestic hundred left India shell-shocked and onlookers spell-bound, and he very nearly took SL past the finish line. But just when the line was in sight, he perished, and that set the stage for a frenetic ending.
Prior to that, Perera had supported Nissanka wonderfully, rattling his way to a 32-ball 58. The rest of the middle order, namely Asalanka and Kamindu, though, did not turn up and that meant Shanaka had to do a lot of the heavy lifting.
As for India, they were shabby with the ball. Their spinners, however, turned it up towards the end of their respective spells and that put SL in a spot. Rana and Arshdeep also largely held their nerve, but they will now have to pick themselves up and go at it again.
3 off the final ball. Super Over anyone? SKY walks up to his bowler, perhaps wanting to discuss what to bowl. Rinku has run from the off side over to the leg side. Probably into a hot spot to prevent the second. Looks like Dube has been moved over to the off side from deep mid wicket, with Rinku taking that spot now
7 off 2. SL need a boundary here
9 off 3. India in the box seat now perhaps. Shanaka, though, might have other views
Liyanage, playing his first game of the tournament, walks in with SL needing 12 off 5
P Nissanka c Varun b Harshit Rana 107 (103m 58b 7x4 6x6) SR: 184.48
12 needed off 6. Rana to bowl. Rana has been very expensive tonight, but this is his moment to turn things around and become the hero. Nissanka, already the hero for SL, would want to add another chapter to his knock tonight
The India captain has been in the spotlight off the field, but his returns on it are dwindling
Head coach says there is "no mental block against India" after defeat meant Sri Lanka lost all three games in Super Fours
There was chaos after Shanaka was initially given out caught behind, then found short of his crease, but given not out for both
Nissanka's ton got Sri Lanka within sight of victory but the remaining batters couldn't quite get them across the line
à €ÂȘà €€à „Âà €Ÿ à €šà €¿à €žà €Âà €ÂĂ Â€ÂŸ à €Âà „ à €ÂȘà „Âà €ÂČà „Âà €¯à €° à €ÂĂ Â€Â«Ă Â€ÂŒ à €Š à €Ÿà „Âà € à €Âà „ÂĂ Â€ÂšĂ Â€ÂŸ à €ÂĂ Â€ÂŻĂ Â€ÂŸ