New Delhi: The Tri-Nation A Series match between India A and Sri Lanka A in Dambulla on Monday had everything a cricket fan could ask for – drama, controversy, confusion and a thrilling Super Over finish.
Just when it looked like Sri Lanka A were on their way to victory, India A scored twice in the final over to force the match into a draw and eventually a Super Over. But the drama had already begun before the draw was confirmed.
Confusion about the final bye ball
Sri Lanka needed one run to win with the final ball, as batsman Shamika Gunasekara was bowled to the pad by a low full toss from Arshad Khan. The ball rolled wide, allowing the batters to complete the run before Gunasekara was run out during his second attempt.With the scores tied, the umpires declared it a draw, but India captain A Tilak Varma immediately questioned whether the first round should have been counted at all. The Indian players argued that Gunasekara did not kick the ball and therefore the penalty kick should not be awarded.The referees had lengthy discussions before confirming the round and declaring the match a draw, setting up the Super Over.
More controversy in the Super Over
The drama continued as Sri Lanka A won first in the Super Over.
With fading light becoming a major concern and floodlights not being available for the tournament, each handover carried added tension.India’s fielders were frustrated by the wide call on the second ball after the delivery appeared to hit the batsman’s shoe. The dispute continued throughout.The biggest moment came on the last ball when Arshad Khan bowled a waist-height full toss to Avishka Fernando. Fernando mistimed the shot and was caught, seemingly done with it.However, the ball was ruled disallowed due to the height, sparking fresh protests from the Indian players. Some had already begun returning to the locker room before they were called by officials.The off-ball allowed Sri Lanka A to finish with 18 runs in the Super Over, leaving India A with a target of 19.
The dull light adds to the tension
The match was played under increasingly poor lighting conditions, with players and officials repeatedly discussing whether there would be enough daylight to complete the match.Tilak Varma was seen speaking to both the umpires and his Sri Lankan counterpart as concerns grew over the vision. Since floodlights were not used at the tournament, officials had to ensure conditions remained fair for both sides.
Sri Lanka A hold their nerve to win the Super Over
Sri Lanka A held their nerve in the Super Over to emerge victorious in a match full of twists and turns.Asked to chase down 19 runs for victory after Sri Lanka A scored 18 runs in the Super Over, India A fielded the explosive duo of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge.
Given their batting ability, India A looked well placed to carry out the chase.However, Sri Lanka bowler Kogadas Mathulane bowled a brilliant ball under pressure.Despite having two strong batsmen at the crease, India A managed just 10 runs without losing a wicket in their six deliveries, leaving them eight runs short of the target.