India posted 137-9 in their first innings as the Sri Lanka bowlers, led by Maheesh Theekshana troubled the batters on a slow wicket. In reply, the hosts got off to a flying start and were 110-1 in 15.1 overs, needing 28 more runs to avoid a series whitewash.
They managed only seven more runs in the next 10 balls but an 11-ball over from left-armer Khaleel Ahmed tilted the balance in favour of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka got 12 runs off the 18th over as the equation reduced to nine of the last two.
Rinku enters the attack in the 19th over
India then sprung a surprise, bringing on Rinku, who had never bowled for India in any format, and hadn't bowled in any T20 game since November 2021. Rinku’s first ball in T20I cricket was a dot and he proceeded to get a wicket with his second delivery, sending back the dangerous Kusal Perera with a short-of-length delivery for a 34-ball 46.
Rinku went on to pick another wicket four balls later, dismissing Ramesh Mendis for three as the gamble paid off and Sri Lanka fell to 132-6, making only three in the over.
Entering the last over, Sri Lanka needed six to win, and India seemingly had the option of bowling with either Khaleel or Mohammed Siraj. While Khaleel had been expensive, giving 28 in his three overs, Siraj had conceded just 11 in his first three overs. However, another unexpected move awaited the Sri Lankans as skipper SKY decided to take the ball.
India clinched a thriller in Pallekele to whitewash Sri Lanka in the three-match T20I series 👏
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) July 30, 2024
Scorecard: https://t.co/0swlo7SjZN pic.twitter.com/6ItEOQDvTZ
Suryakumar defends six in the final over
Like Rinku, SKY had never bowled in T20Is before. His last ball in the format came nearly ten years ago. He last sent down a ball in a T20 game during the final of the Champions League T20 in October 2014 against Chennai Super Kings. Following the clash, where he turned out for Kolkata Knight Riders, SKY was reported for a suspected illegal bowling action. He never bowled in T20s again, until Tuesday.
The India captain also started with a dot and got the wicket of Kamindu Mendis on his second delivery. He was on a hattrick, dismissing Theekshana on the third ball as the first three balls fetched no runs. He missed a run out in strange circumstances, throwing at the keeper's end with the non-striker's stumps at his mercy, and gave away five runs in the next three balls, as the game ended in a tie.
India went on to win the Super Over after Sri Lanka managed only two runs. SKY took one ball to hit the winning boundary, sealing a the series 3-0.
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