'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Team India beat Sri Lanka in the third T20I of the three-match series at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30, drawing hilarious reactions from fans and experts. The match proved to be a thrilling contest, with the Suryakumar Yadav-led side clinching victory in the Super Over and sweeping the series 3-0.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field first in the dead rubber. The visitors were off to a dismal start, losing four wickets within the first six overs. Shubman Gill was the top scorer for India, scoring 39 runs off 37 balls.
Vital cameos from Riyan Parag (26 off 18) and Washington Sundar (25 off 18) helped the Men in Blue finish at 137/9 after 20 overs. Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers in the innings, recording figures of 4-0-28-3.
Sri Lanka were off to an impressive start, with openers Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka kicking off the chase with a 58-run partnership. Kusal Perera also chipped in with a 46-run knock at No. 3.
However, the hosts suffered a collapse for the third time in the series. They scored just 22 runs and lost seven wickets in the last 4.1 overs, ultimately finishing at 137/8.
Sri Lanka needed nine runs off 12 balls with six wickets in hand after 18 overs. In a surprise move, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav handed the ball to Rinku Singh, who gave away just three runs and claimed two wickets, bringing the equation down to six off as many deliveries. Suryakumar backed himself to bowl the all-important final over, where he gave away five runs and claimed two wickets.
Washington Sundar bowled the Super Over for India, picking up two wickets in three balls and conceding two runs. With the touring party requiring just three runs to win, Suryakumar hit a four on the first ball to take his side home.
Following the encounter, several fans and experts took to social media, reacting to India's victory. Here are some of the top reactions:
Congratulating Team India's new head coach Gautam Gambhir on beginning his stint with a 3-0 whitewash over Sri Lanka, the BCCI secretary Jay Shah wrote:
"A 3-0 series win for the Men in Blue! The boys played a fearless brand of cricket throughout the series, and it was a treat to watch! Congratulations to our head coach, @GautamGambhir, on his successful first series with Team India! On to the ODIs now!"
Suggesting that Suryakumar followed Rohit Sharma's leadership approach, former India batter Mohammad Kaif remarked:
"Bhai Rohit Sharma ka chela hai Surya.. 19th over Rinku se, 20th over khud SKY and won the game. What else one needs to be a great leader?"
Commenting on the Men in Blue's series win, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan posted:
"New era with bigger hopes begins with 3-0 well done team India."
This is the third time that India have completed a whitewash against Sri Lanka in a T20I series. Washington Sundar was the Player of the Match for his brilliant all-round performance.
"I felt 140 was a par score on that track" - Suryakumar Yadav after India's Super Over win
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Suryakumar Yadav lauded his teammates for turning things around when Sri Lanka seemed to be in the driver's seat.
Revealing what his message was for his players during the innings, Suryakumar said (via ESPNCricinfo):
"More than the last over, I feel when we were around 30/4 and 48/5, how the boys showed character in the middle and took the game away from them ... I felt 140 was a par score on that track. When we were going in during fielding session I told them, 'I have seen such kind of games. If we put our heart in for one and a half hours, we can pull it off.'"
"If you are enjoying hitting 200-220s and winning games, you should enjoy 30/4 and 70/5 as well because that creates balance in your life and that's how you move on and just be humble. The amount of skill they have, self confidence what they bring into the table, it makes my job very easy," he added.
The two Asian teams will next compete in a three-match ODI series, with the opener at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, August 2.
