First Time In 19 Years! Sri Lankan Batters Score More Than… | Cricket News

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera’s ferocious hitting helped Sri Lanka secure a bit of history in their last match of the 2025 Asia Cup against India at the Dubai International Stadium. The Lankans smashed 72 runs in the power play, which was the highest-ever total in that phase in T20Is in the country’s history.

This happened despite opener Kusal Mendis getting out for a golden duck in the first over, edging an outswinger against Hardik Pandya to slips on the fourth. Nissanka, who started the innings with a boundary, scored 47 off 21, while Perera contributed 24 (14). Together, they took India’s attack comprising Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana, and Axar Patel to the cleaners with neither offering any reprieve.

72 was the joint-highest total in this tournament, alongside India’s against Bangladesh in the 2025 Asia Cup.

Most runs in a T20I powerplay for Sri Lanka

After the power play, both players reached their fifties comfortably, taking 25 balls each. The partnership crossed 100 runs in no time, reaching 114/1, the highest total at the 10-over mark in the T20 Asia Cup.

At the time of writing this, they had passed 123 runs, too, making it the highest-ever partnership for any wickets in T20 Asia Cup history.

India put up 202/5 in first innings

India produced a commanding batting display to post 202/5 runs in the first innings, the highest total of the tournament. Abhishek Sharma continued his stellar form, smashing 61 off 31 balls with eight fours and two sixes, completing a hat-trick of half-centuries. His aggressive powerplay assault set the tone, though he once again missed out on a century, holing out at deep mid-wicket.

Shubman Gill (4) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (12) fell cheaply, with Gill falling to Maheesh Theekshana’s slower ball and Surya trapped leg-before by Wanindu Hasaranga, deepening the latter’s poor run.

Sanju Samson, promoted to No. 5, finally found form with a breezy 39 off 22 balls, striking three sixes, including a stunning straight hit off Hasaranga. His 66-run partnership with Tilak Varma (49* off 34) steadied the innings and set up a strong finish. Tilak played a crucial anchoring role, while Axar Patel applied the finishing touch with a last-over six.

India’s batting effort not only surpassed their previous highest score of 188 but also laid a strong platform heading into the Asia Cup final, with key middle-order contributions boosting their confidence.