The ESPN Headline, 15 June 2026, reads thus: “Sooryavanshi, Halambage in heated exchange after Super-Over finish”
Tempers flared after Sri Lanka A edged India A in a Super Over in Dambulla.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi couldn’t get the job done for India A in a tense finish • SLC
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Vishen Halambage were involved in a heated exchange that led to physical contact on the field after Sri Lanka A beat India A in a Super-Over finish in the one-day tri-series in Dambulla.
Sri Lanka A wicketkeeper Niroshan Dickwella intervened to diffuse the tension between the two players in the fading light at the end of the game.
After the match was tied at the end of 50 overs, a Super Over was needed to separate the two teams. Sri Lanka A scored 16 in the Super Over. In response, India A could manage only nine as rookie Kugathas Mathulan, a slinger in the mould of Matheesha Pathirana, denied Sooryavanshi and Suryansh Shedge.
Following the conclusion of the match, visuals emerged that showed Shedge pointing his bat towards Halambage before Sooryavanshi turned back to get into an exchange with the Sri Lankan player. Sooryavanshi and Halambage were then seen shoving each other, and Dickwella separating the two. Sooryavanshi was also seen gesticulating as he walked off the field.
The final half hour of play was full of drama as India A’s left-arm quick Arshad Khan conceded only four runs off the 50th over, when Sri Lanka A needed five to win. However, with light fading fast, the umpires appeared reluctant to take the game into a Super Over. The cut-off time was 5.30 pm but it is understood the match officials had the option of extending play until they deemed natural light was not fit for purpose.
India A captain Tilak Varma appeared to be strident while speaking to the umpires in favour of a Super Over, and the match officials agreed once Sri Lanka A were also on board. By the time the Sri Lankan batters came out to bat, it was already 6.17 pm and sunset in Dambula was eight minutes away.
There was more drama when Sri Lanka A played their Super Over. The last ball was a high full-toss from Arshad to Avishka Fernando, who failed to clear the infield and was caught, only for the TV umpire to check the delivery for height and rule it a no-ball. The Indian players had already left the ground to allow their batters to chase before the light worsened. Tilak, along with officials form the India team management, spoke to the reserve umpire and they had to come back on the field to bowl the final delivery again.
In a game of small margins, India A also ended up conceding ten penalty runs to Sri Lanka after the on-field umpires Prageeth Rambukwella and Shantha Fonseka penalised Vipraj Nigam for running on the danger area of the pitch in the 34th and 37th over. As a result, Sri Lanka A started their chase with ten runs on the board even before a ball was bowled.
Sri Lanka A currently lead the tri-series points table with four points (two wins in three games). India A and Afghanistan A are level on two points, though India A have played three games to Afghanistan A’s two.
&&&&&&&&&&&
WATCH … SEE the rolling video that presents the face-to-face CONFRONTATION between two Indina batsmen and the Sri Lankan fielding side a the end of the Super Over. ….. Note the critical mediaiting role of wicket keeper NIROSHAN DICKWELLA ….
……… https://www.facebook.com/reel/1319206133758307