Scuffle, Super Over confusion and last-gasp heroics rock Dambulla as Sri Lanka A beat India A in wild thriller

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Cricket fans witnessed one of the most dramatic matches of the Tri-Nation A One-Day Series as Sri Lanka A edged India A in a nerve-wracking Super Over after both teams finished tied on 265. The contest had everything—a thrilling chase, standout individual performances, confusion over playing conditions due to fading light, and even a heated on-field scuffle after the final ball before the hosts sealed a memorable victory.

After being asked to bat, India A posted 265 in 49.2 overs, with Suryansh Shedge leading the rescue act through a fluent 72 off 66 balls. The hard-hitting innings shifted momentum back in India A’s favour after early setbacks, while Vipraj Nigam chipped in with a valuable 51 from 49 deliveries to strengthen the total. Sri Lanka A’s bowling attack was spearheaded by Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, who delivered an economical spell of 3 for 26 to prevent India A from setting a more imposing target.

Chasing 266, Sri Lanka A found their anchor in Sadeera Samarawickrama, whose composed 93 off 113 balls kept the innings together under pressure. Despite regular wickets, the hosts refused to back down and eventually finished on 265 for nine at the end of 50 overs. India A spinner Ayush Badoni impressed with figures of 2 for 45, but his efforts were not enough to deny Sri Lanka A a dramatic tie and force the match into a Super Over.

The excitement briefly gave way to uncertainty when fading light cast doubt over whether the Super Over would be played. Umpires engaged in prolonged discussions, delaying proceedings for more than 10 minutes and leaving players and spectators in suspense. India A captain Tilak Varma was seen in animated conversations with the officials before the decision was finally made to continue with the tie-breaker despite the challenging conditions.

Sri Lanka A scored 16 in the Super Over, setting India A a target of 17. However, 19-year-old Kugathas Mathulan produced a composed and disciplined effort with the ball, restricting India A to just nine runs and sparking jubilant celebrations from the home side. The young bowler’s calm execution under immense pressure proved to be the defining moment of a match already packed with twists and turns.

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The drama extended beyond the result when India A’s Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Sri Lanka A’s Vishen Halambage became involved in a heated exchange immediately after the Super Over. The verbal spat escalated into a brief physical confrontation before teammates stepped in to restore order. Although emotions ran high, both teams eventually completed the customary post-match handshakes, bringing an extraordinary contest to a close.

From Shedge’s fighting knock and Samarawickrama’s masterclass to Viyaskanth’s incisive spell, Mathulan’s Super Over heroics and the late controversy, the Dambulla encounter delivered nonstop drama. The thrilling finish not only handed Sri Lanka A a memorable victory but also produced one of the standout matches of the 2026 Tri-Nation A Series.

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