SL vs IND 2024: Sri Lanka vs India, 3rd T20I – Who Said What?

At the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30, India and Sri Lanka engaged in a decisive third T20I match. The series concluded with the hosts winning by a margin thanks to the Men in Blue.

In the powerplay, India lost captain Suryakumar Yadav, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh, which led to a disastrous start. On a slow track, all four batters were out after taking aggressive shots. India was in serious trouble at the end of the powerplay, having only scored 30 runs at the expense of four wickets.

Shivam Dube and Shubman Gill attempted to right the ship, but all they could muster was an 18-run partnership run-a-ball. Ramesh Mendis removed the all-rounder as the spinners began to receive much of turn from the pitch. Gill and Riyan Parag shared the greatest partnership of the Indian innings, scoring 54 vital runs off of 40 balls. In the partnership, Parag was the more aggressive batsman, hitting Wanindu Hasaranga for two sixes in an over. The Indian vice skipper attempted to take on the role of the anchor but was out for a 37-ball 39 after being stumped by Hasaranga.

In quick succession, Parag also left as Washington Sundar teamed up with Ravi Bishnoi. They shown great tenacity and forged a crucial combination that saw them score 32 runs off of 24 balls. The Indian innings ended with two wickets falling off the final two deliveries, and the visitors concluded with 137/9 in their 20 overs. A big setback was dealt to Sri Lanka when Matheesha Pathirana injured his shoulder while fielding and was unable to bowl. Still, the spinners performed admirably under favourable circumstances, preventing India from scoring more than 150 runs.

Sri Lanka loses the plot following a strong opening 15 overs.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, the openers, gave Sri Lanka a strong start. They added 58 runs in the first nine overs after Mohammed Siraj delivered an excellent new-ball spell. Kusal Perera joined Mendis in the middle after Nissanka left for 26 and contributed 52 from 39 balls. With nine wickets in hand and only 28 runs needed off the final 29 balls, Sri Lanka was coasting through their run chase.

But just as in the first two games, the home team’s batting collapsed once more. In 15.1 overs, they were 110/1; in 19.3 overs, they were 132/8. After two outstanding overs from Rinku Singh and Suryakumar Yadav, the game eventually went to the Super Over.

Also Read: Why are Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant not playing in the third T20I between Sri Lanka and India in 2024?

Washington Sundar took both of Sri Lanka’s wickets in the Super Over for a mere two runs. India won the batting essay when Suryakumar hit Maheesh Theekshana for a boundary.

Losing skipper, Charith Asalanka

Definitely, really disappointed, especially the middle order and lower-middle order. Very bad shot selection. The thinking was spinners were bowling and that’s why Hasaranga came up the order and we gave him the license to hit one or two boundaries. I think especially we played some wrong shots and when the ball gets old, the shot selection has to be spot on. We can’t give excuses and we have to do more than this. I want to see good batting performance in ODIs and I think the boys will do better.

Winning skipper and Player of the Series, Suryakumar Yadav

I think more than the last over. When we were 30 for 4 and 48 for 5, the way we showed character. 140 was a par score on this track. I told them I’ve seen such kinds of games and I told the boys if you put your heart into it, you can pull it off. The amount of skill they have and self-confidence they have – it makes my job easy. The care for each other they show is unbelievable. They made my job easy and when I go into bat, I have little pressure and I just express myself. I don’t want to be the captain. I want to be the leader

Player of the Match, Washington Sundar

 I guess all the work I did and a lot of blessings from god helped me. I just wanted to try and stay calm and focus on what I needed to do. Grateful to Surya to throw the ball to come in that kind of a situation. Very grateful to have gotten an opportunity in this game. I just need to do what I need to do. We did a bit of homework against their batsmen and there was some purchase in the wicket and I just sort of had to hit the right length.