India are unbeaten so far in tournament, will face Pakistan in final on Sunday
India beat Sri Lanka in Super Over after close battle in Asia Cup 2025’s final Super Fours’ encounter at Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh kept his nerves in check in the Super Over to help India win a thrilling contest against Sri Lanka.
Arshdeep, who had returned the figures of 46/1, was entrusted with the ball by India skipper Suryakumar Yadav for the Super Over and the left-arm pacer gave just two runs and took as many wickets.
He bowled out Kusal Perera on the very first delivery before removing Shanaka caught at deep third-man on the second last delivery.
In reply, India easily overhauled the target of three runs in the first ball of their Super Over as Suryakumar drove Wanindu Hasaranga down the extra cover and collected three to take his team across the line.
Earlier, the 2022 winners required three runs off the last ball with seasoned all-rounder Dasun Shanaka on the strike and Harshit Rana bowled a back of the length ball, coming in towards the stumps, which was smashed away towards the long-on, where Arshdeep Singh dropped it.
The misfield gave two runs comfortably to Sri Lanka, and the third was also possible, but Shanaka dived desperately in attempting to complete the second and Sri Lanka had to settle for a couple in the end.
Sri Lanka were well placed when the final over began as they required 12 with centurion Pathum Nissanka at the crease.
The right-handed opening batsman, nonetheless, fell on the first ball of the fateful over, which pushed Sri Lanka’s hopes and eventually stopped them from pursuing the target.
Nissanka continued as the leading scorer for Sri Lanka with 107 off 58 balls, featuring six sixes and seven fours.
He was also part of an anchoring 127-run second-wicket partnership with teammate top-order batter Kusal Perera, who contributed handsomely with 58 from 32 balls, hitting eight fours and a six.
The Men in Blue’s start to the innings, however, was jittery when Maheesh Theekshana caught and bowled Shubman Gill (four) off the second over with only 15 runs on the board.
Asia Cup: India win against Sri Lanka after Super Over thriller 2025
In-form Sharma then posted a one-sided 59-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who was trapped by Wanindu Hasaranga in the seventh over after making a defensive 12 from 13 balls.
Sharma shared a short stand with Tilak Varma before Asalanka brought curtains down on his explosive knock in the ninth over.
The left-handed opener continued to be India’s highest scorer with a swashbuckling 61 off 31 balls, studded with 10 boundaries, two of which were sixes.
With his departure, wicket-keeper batter Sanju Samson and Varma maintained India’s momentum by contributing 66 runs off 40 balls in their fourth-wicket stand, which ended with the former’s dismissal in the 16th over.
Samson was a significant contributor to India’s overall score with a 27-ball 39 that included three fours and a six.
The Men in Blue then lost another wicket in the subsequent over when Dushmantha Chameera caught Hardik Pandya and bowled him off to reduce the total to 162/5.
While this was happening, Varma held his ground firm and ensured a solid finish to India’s innings with an unbeaten half-century, making 49 not out off 34 balls, studded with four fours and a six.
He was aided by all-rounder Axar Patel, who made an unbeaten 21 off 15 balls, including one six and a four.
For Sri Lanka, Theekshana, Chameera, Hasaranga, Asalanka and Dasun Shanaka each took one wicket.
