Sri Lanka A defeated India A in a dramatic Super Over at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium on Monday, 15 June, clinching a tense 50-over tri-series match after both sides finished tied on 265. Kugathas Mathulan held his nerve to defend 16 runs in the Super Over, restricting India A to just nine runs for a seven-run win — handing the visitors their second consecutive defeat in the competition.

India A's Recovery from the Depths

India A had been in serious trouble at 143 for 7 before a stunning 104-run eighth-wicket partnership between Suryansh Shedge and Vipraj Nigam revived their innings. Shedge struck 72 off 66 balls while Nigam contributed 51 off 49 balls, lifting the total to 265 in 49.2 overs. However, Nigam's two warnings for running on the pitch proved costly — India A were docked 10 penalty runs as a result.

Sri Lanka A's Chase and the Super Over Drama

Sadeera Samarawickrama anchored the Sri Lanka A reply with a composed 93 off 113 balls, while Niroshan Dickwella chipped in with 37. Arshad Khan bowled a brilliant final over that nearly swung the match India's way, but the hosts held on to level the scores at 265 for 9 in 50 overs. In the Super Over, Sri Lanka A posted 16 runs before Mathulan kept India A to nine, sealing the contest.

Controversy, Heated Exchanges, and Umpiring Disputes

The closing stages were marred by heated disputes in deteriorating light. India A skipper Tilak Varma relentlessly argued a decision on the final delivery, with questions raised over whether Chamika Gunasekara had offered a shot. The on-field officials stood firm, pushing the game into a Super Over. During the Super Over itself, Arshad Khan appeared to dismiss Avishka Fernando with a dipping full toss, but the third umpire overturned the on-field call on review — prompting a visibly frustrated Varma to engage in a prolonged exchange with officials.

Tempers flared again at the close when teenaged batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi — who had briefly returned to prepare for his batting stint before being sent back to field — was visibly upset after missing the final ball. He engaged in a brief exchange with Vishen Halambage before being pulled away by his partner Shedge. Sooryavanshi continued to direct words toward the Sri Lanka A huddle while walking back to the pavilion. The teams eventually shook hands, though the match ended on a sour note.

Bowling Highlights

Vijaykanth Viyaskanth and Mohamed Shiraz were the pick of the Sri Lanka A bowlers, taking 3 for 26 and 3 for 33 respectively. For India A, Ayush Badoni claimed 2 for 45 and Shedge took 1 for 13.

What India A Must Do Next

The defeat leaves India A in a precarious position in the tri-series standings. They must beat Afghanistan A on Wednesday to secure a place in the final. A second consecutive loss would end their campaign at the group stage.

Brief Scores: India A 265/10 in 49.2 overs (Suryansh Shedge 72, Vipraj Nigam 51; Vijaykanth Viyaskanth 3-26, Mohamed Shiraz 3-33) tied with Sri Lanka A 265/9 in 50 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 93, Niroshan Dickwella 37; Ayush Badoni 2-45, Suryansh Shedge 1-13) — Sri Lanka A won the Super Over.