Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka (3 for 30) took matters in his hands and struck twice off successive deliveries to end the game in a stange and dramatic tie with the wickets of Shivam Dube and Arshdeep Singh, who tried to hit a boundary when all he was required to do was to tap it around to find the single run needed for victory.
India’s pursuit of Sri Lanka in the R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo on Friday ended 13 balls earlier, when they were only one run short of winning with two wickets remaining in hand.
Sri Lanka scored a competitive 230 for 8 after opting to bat first, led by half-centuries from opener Pathum Nissanka (56) and Dunith Wellalage (67) lower down the order against a disciplined Indian bowling attack that shared the spoils and was led by left-arm spinner Axar Patel’s 2 for 33.
Arshdeep, who took 2 for 47 earlier, ended the game on the wrong note when he tried a big heave on the leg-side down on one knee, but missed connection and was hit on the back leg to be adjudged out lbw. He went for the review, but all the parameters were in bowler’s favour on replays.
Fans have been poking fun at him since then because as an Indian cricket player people did not expect him trying to go for glory instead of simply finding one safe point.
Watch how this match ends dramatically
Skipper Rohit Sharma scored a stroke-filled fifty before getting out at crucial stage while en route his team’s triumph. Shubman Gill also played well but could not convert his start into something substantial. Pathum Nissanka spearheaded Sri Lankan batting along with Dunith Wellalage. Their efforts were however negated by some brilliant bowling from Axar Patel who finished with 2/33.
He was called out for a big hoick on the leg side that ended up in him missing the ball completely and getting hit on the back leg adjudged lbw. The Indians went for review but replays confirmed all parameters in favour of the bowler.
In a game where India needed him to remain at the crease and get one run, Arshdeep Siraj tried to blast Asalanka for four.
This led to fans mocking his name in social media platforms
But among these trollers, there were some who stood by Arshdeep, who was India’s highest wicket-taker during the T20 World Cup triumph earlier this year in June.
