India vs Sri Lanka, Super Fours, 18th Match (A1 v B1) - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

So the first real close game in this Asia Cup comes in a dead rubber with nothing on the line. It went to a Super Over and provided great entertainment. India needed someone to push them and Sri Lanka did that really well tonight. Just the final left and it's on Sunday (28th) of this month. We will be there nice and early for that game. Do join us then. For now it's bye bye from all of us here.

Suryakumar Yadav: It felt like a final, boys showed a lot of character after the first half in the second innings, I told the boys to have good energy and let's see where we are at the end. To have that start (with the bat), and someone like Sanju and Tilak taking that tempo was good to see. And for someone like Sanju, who is not opening the batting, and taking that responsibility and even Tilak showing great confidence which was good to see. He (Arshdeep) has delivered for us the last 2-3 years. I told him to back his own plans and try to execute. He has been there in that situation many times and he has done really well for India and for his IPL side. His confidence says it all. None other than Arshdeep to bowl that Super Over. Few boys had a lot of cramps today, we will have a recovery day tomorrow and turn up the same way we turned up today (talking about the final). Everyone got what they wanted (from the group stages) and we are very happy to be in the finals.

Charith Asalanka: It was a fabulous game and we were in the game until Varun and Kuldeep bowled those middle overs. It was unbelievable batting (from Nissanka), they have some extremely good bowlers and it was really good to see him bat with that attacking approach. Lots of positives from the Asia Cup. We have been playing good cricket and unfortunately we couldn't win in the last 2 games. As a captain, there are a lot of positives to take.

Pathum Nissanka is the Player of the Match.

Stats by Shashikant Singh

200-plus totals in tied finishes (Full Member teams)
214 - NZ vs AUS, Christchurch, 2010 (NZ won)
212 - IND vs AFG, Bengaluru, 2024 (IND won)
202 - IND vs SL, Dubai, 2025 (IND won)*

Most wins against an opponent in T20Is
24 - PAK vs NZ (49 games)
23 - IND vs SL (33 games)*
23 - NZ vs PAK (49 games)
21 - ENG vs PAK (31 games)
(Including super over wins)

This is the sixth win in as many tied finishes for India in T20Is - five via Super Over and one via Bowl Out. Other than these, they featured in a rain-affected tied game against New Zealand in Napier in 2022, wherein the scores were tied on DLS before the match was called off due to rain.

This is the fourth loss for Sri Lanka in six Super Overs.

23:02 Local Time, 19:02 GMT, 00:32 IST: Handshakes follow as there's a good spirit between the two teams. Shanaka is hugged by one of the batters. A fine game and Sri Lanka would be gutted that they did not win it. Nissanka played a blinder of a knock en route to his maiden T20I ton, he was struggling early on with his fitness and struggled running between the wickets. But he did not hold back and along with KJP added 127 which put India on the back foot. When those two were going, Sri Lanka were well ahead and they were scoring boundaries at will. Nothing seemed to be working till Kuldeep came and bowled a tight over. Next over Varun got KJP and then both Asalanka and Kamindu struggled. That put pressure on Nissanka who was deprived of the strike too. Eventually Nissanka got to his 100 and fell to the first ball of the final over. A lucky outside-edge saw Sri Lanka need 3 off the last ball before it went to a Super Over. Arshdeep was asked by Gambhir to bowl that over and he delivered big time. Nailed the yorker and gave away just two runs. India needed just one ball to finish the required target. India remain unbeaten and head into the final as big favorites. They will be worried only with the fitness of both Hardik who went off early on in the main innings and then Tilak. That's why Rinku and Jitesh came on as subs and they were the ones who took the catches in the Super Over. Stay tuned for the post-match stuff...

Ball 1 - Hasaranga to Surya, 3 runs, India win. This is a googly on off and middle, SKY goes on the back foot and punches it wide of the diving cover, the ball holds up near the outfield, they run hard and come back for the third even as the throw comes on the bounce to Hasaranga

Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill are at the crease. Suryakumar Yadav is on strike. Wanindu Hasaranga will open the attack

India just need three to win. Should be a breeze. Sri Lanka look relaxed too. They are smiling in the huddle. They wait for the Indian openers. Gambhir has a chat to one of his support staff. Gill and SKY the two openers. How long will they take? One ball? Let's see. Hasaranga to bowl. SKY will face. The bowler and Kusal Mendis setting the field. Just long-off back, the rest three fielders are back on the leg-side.

*************

Ball 5 - Arshdeep to Shanaka, OUT! Caught by Jitesh Sharma. What an over this has been. It's full and wide outside off, across Shanaka who throws the bat at that, slices it and there's the field set for the shot, flies straight to the fielder at deep backward point and Jitesh makes no mistake. Pats on the back for the Indians who walk off with smiles on their faces. Just two runs in that Super Over. Sri Lanka are 2/2.

Ball 4 - Arshdeep to Shanaka, no run, given out caught behind. And Sri Lanka review. Meanwhile Samson throws down the stumps with a direct-hit with an under-arm flick. On a yorker length outside off, moves away, Shanaka tries to dig it out and misses, past the outside-edge and no bat. Shanaka for some reason runs and Samson hits direct. Since it has been given out caught behind, and reviewed, the ball is dead and umpire Gazi Sohel makes his point known to India. The first decision always stands and when it is given out by the ump at the bowler's end, the ball is dead and that's why Shanaka escapes from being run-out. But what was he thinking as he went for the run, poor stuff from Shanaka and he is so so lucky. Gazi Sohel explains to India who too seem perplexed. Arshdeep appealed for a caught behind and that was the reason the standing umpire gave it out. UltraEdge shows a clear gap between bat and ball. If Arshdeep had not appealed then Sri Lanka's Super Over would have ended with both batters stranded in the middle of the pitch. Sri Lanka are 2/1.

Ball 4 - Arshdeep to Shanaka, wide, this is wide of the tramline on the off-side, the wide yorker and Arshdeep misses his mark, Shanaka drives and misses. Sri Lanka are 2/1.

Ball 3 - Arshdeep to Shanaka, no run, fine delivery. The yorker length delivery outside off, across Shanaka who drives and misses, under the bat and that is so well bowled. Sri Lanka are 1/1.

Ball 2 - Arshdeep to Kamindu Mendis, 1 run, a direct-hit on the kick from Arshdeep and Shanaka was gone there. A low full-toss outside off, Kamindu shuffles across looking for the scoop, thick inside-edge hits the right leg and it rolls back, Arshdeep was quick and his kick just missed the stumps, no dive from Shanaka too. Sri Lanka are 1/1.

Kamindu Mendis, left handed bat, comes to the crease