In the 9th match of the Asia Cup 2022 , Sri Lanka defeated India to secure a significant victory in the Super-Four match on Tuesday (6th September). India once more scored a high total while batting first, with skipper Rohit Sharma hitting a fifty. However, Sri Lanka secured a decisive win at the Dubai International Stadium with six wickets still in play and one ball remaining after bowlers failed to hold off the target.
Once more, Rohit Sharma was forced to bat first after losing the toss. Sri Lanka didn't alter, however India replaced experienced spinner Ravi Ashwin for Ravi Bishnoi in their starting lineup. With only 11 runs on the board in the second over, India lost opener KL Rahul. After that, the in-form Virat Kohli joined Rohit in the middle but only played for four balls. Right-arm bowler Dilshan Madushanka bowled Kohli on duck in the third over.
However, the following batsman Suryakumar Yadav controlled the fall and joined alongside Rohit to score 97 runs for the third wicket. Rohit smashed 72 runs off just 41 balls before getting caught out on Chamika Karunaratne's delivery in the 13th over. In the 15th over, Suryakumar Yadav, who had scored a crucial 34 runs, was dismissed by Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka.
The middle order batsmen Hardik Pandya, Deepak Hooda, and Rishabh Pant once again failed to have a significant impact, as India was unable to establish any significant partnerships in the final five overs. India reached a respectable total of 173/8 thanks to Ashwin's unbeaten 15 runs off seven balls. Madushanka took three wickets for Sri Lanka, while Shanaka and Karunaratne each claimed two.
Without a strong start, Sri Lanka's target of 174 could have been challenging, and they can credit Pathum Nissanka (52) and Kusal Mendis (57) for a 97-run opening stand.
Sri Lanka lost 4 for 13 after being in total control at 97/0 after 11 overs as Chahal helped India roar back into the match. Nissanka got out when he reverse-swept the legspinner straight to the backward point. Charith Asalanka lost his wicket in the same over after missing a slog-sweep. Later Chahal trapped Mendis in front of his stumps with a slider. Mendis's dismissal left Sri Lanka needing 64 off 35 deliveries.
But yet again, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (25*) and Shanaka (33*) combined for an unbroken 64-run partnership. Indian pacers found it difficult to contain the runs in the last overs as Sri Lanka completed the target with one ball remaining.. On September 8, India will play their final Super-Four match against Afghanistan, and the following day, Sri Lanka will play Pakistan.
Brief scores: India 173/8 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 72, Suryakumar Yadav 34; Dilshan Madushanka 3-24, Chamika Karunaratne 2-27) lost to Sri Lanka 174/4 in 19.5 overs (Kusal Mendis 57, Pathum Nissanka 52; Yuzvendra Chahal 3-34) by six wickets.