By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Pallekela / Pix: Kushan Pathiraja

(Daily Mirror) - India clinched a clean sweep in the threematch T20 series against Sri Lanka, securing victory in a Super Over after both teams scored 137 runs at the Pallekele Stadium.

Sri Lanka, poised for a win, faltered due to poor middle-order batting. Despite needing just three runs off the last ball, debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe managed to tie the match, forcing a Super Over.
Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis gave Sri Lanka a strong start, adding 58 runs in 53 balls. Mendis and Kusal Perera furthered this with a 52-run stand in 33 balls.

However, Sri Lanka lost six wickets for just 22 runs, ending on 132 for 8, necessitating a Super Over.

India's skipper Suriyakumar Yadav's gamble on part-time bowler Rinku Singh paid off, marking a turning point in the match.

India, having already won the series, rested key players Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, and Arshdeep Singh. They struggled early, losing five wickets for 48 runs in the ninth over. Debutant Chamindu Wickramasinghe claimed his first wicket, Sanju Samson.

Shubman Gill and Riyan Parag steadied India's innings with a 58-run partnership, reaching 100 runs. Gill scored 39 off 37 balls before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga, who also dismissed Parag. Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi's 32-run stand helped India reach 137 for 9.

The teams will now compete in a threematch ODI series starting August 2 at R. Premadasa Stadium, with subsequent matches on August 4 and August 7 at the same venue.

CHIEF SCORES:-

India: 137 for 9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 39, Riyan Parag 26, Washington Sundar 25, Maheesh Theekshana 3/28, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/29, Asitha Fernando 1/11, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 1/17,
Ramesh Mendis1/26)

Sri Lanka: 137 for 8 in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 26, Kusal Mendis 43, Kusal Perera 46, Rinku Singh 2/3, Suryakumar Yadav 2/5, Washington Sundar 2/23, Ravi Bishnoi 2/38).

SUPER OVER

• Sri Lanka: 2 for 2 in 0.3 overs (Washington Sundar 2/2)
• India: 4 in 0.1 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 4)