DAMBULLA, June 15 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka A stunned India A in a dramatic Super Over finish in Dambulla on Monday, with teenage pacer Kugadas Mathulan holding his nerve to defend 16 runs after Sadeera Samarawickrama’s brilliant 93 had helped force a tie in a thrilling tri-series clash.
After both teams finished level on 265, Mathulan produced a superb Super Over under fading light, restricting India A to just nine runs and sealing Sri Lanka A’s victory after they had posted 16 in their one-over shootout.
The win handed India A a second successive defeat and left them needing victory against Afghanistan A in their next match to stay in contention.
The match ended in extraordinary fashion after Sri Lanka A, chasing 266, needed two runs from the final ball. Chamika Gunasekara was run out attempting the second run, but the umpire awarded a leg bye, leaving the scores tied and forcing a Super Over after lengthy discussions over the playing conditions.
The Super Over itself was delayed by more than 10 minutes as India A captain Tilak Varma requested clarification from the umpires. The contest eventually resumed in poor light, adding further tension to an already gripping encounter.
Tempers flared after the final delivery when India’s teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and several Sri Lankan players became involved in a heated exchange. Umpires intervened before Niroshan Dickwella and Sri Lanka captain Sahan Arachchige stepped in to calm the situation.
Earlier, India A recovered from a middle-order collapse thanks to Suryansh Shedge, who struck a maiden List A half-century. The all-rounder made a composed 72 from 66 balls and shared a vital 104-run eighth-wicket partnership with Vipraj Nigam, who contributed 51.
India had slipped to 143 for 7 after Sri Lanka leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth ripped through the middle order, dismissing Ruturaj Gaikwad, Nishant Sindhu and Anukul Roy on his way to figures of 3-26. Eshan Malinga also claimed three wickets for 33 runs.
India’s total was boosted further by two five-run penalties awarded to Sri Lanka before the chase began. The penalties were imposed after Nigam repeatedly ran on the protected area of the pitch despite earlier warnings from the umpires.
Sri Lanka’s chase revolved around Samarawickrama, who once again produced a match-winning effort after his unbeaten 60 against Afghanistan A in the previous game. The experienced batter paced his innings superbly, reaching 93 before being dismissed by Arshad Khan in the final over.
Samarawickrama survived a crucial chance on 56 when Shedge dropped a straightforward catch at extra cover, a miss that nearly proved decisive.
Although India fought back strongly through Arshad and their spinners, Samarawickrama guided Sri Lanka to the brink of victory before the chaotic finish sent the game into a Super Over.
Mathulan then delivered the final blow, firing three pinpoint yorkers to deny Sooryavanshi and Shedge and complete a memorable victory for Sri Lanka A.
