Nissanka hundred goes in vain as India beats Sri Lanka in a super over at the Asia Cup

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Pathum Nissanka's scintillating century was in vain after Sri Lanka tied with India then lost a super over in tame fashion in the Asia Cup on Friday.

India had already qualified for the final and Sri Lanka was eliminated, but the way the last Super Four match panned out, “It felt like a final,” India captain Suryakumar Yadav said.

Sri Lanka scored two runs on the final ball and tied the score at 202-5 after 40 overs and forced the super over. But it could score only two runs as Arshdeep Singh picked up two wickets in four balls.

India then finished the match with three runs on the very first ball of its super over, completing the Asia Cup league stage unbeaten.

India will play Pakistan in the final on Sunday for the third time in the tournament. India won both previous matches comfortably but caused controversy by not shaking hands with Pakistan. It is the first India-Pakistan final in the Asia Cup (across formats) since 1984.

Despite Friday’s game being a dead rubber, India's Abhishek Sharma didn’t take it any lighter. He passed 300 runs in this tournament with a third successive half-century in the Super Fours.

Sharma hit two sixes and eight fours en route to 50 off 22 balls. He was out for 61 off 31 in the ninth over, caught at the midwicket fence. But the middle order kept up the run rate.

Tilak Varma scored an unbeaten 49 off 34 balls and Sanju Samson hit 39 off 23. They put on 66 off 41 balls for the fourth wicket.

Axar Patel’s 21-run cameo helped India to the first 200-plus total of the tournament.

In reply, Nissanka set a hectic pace for his maiden Twenty20 century despite losing opening partner Kusal Mendis for a golden duck.

He put on 127 off 70 balls for the second wicket with Kusal Perera, who scored 58 off 32.

Nissanka hit six sixes and seven fours — he reached 50 off 25 balls, and then to three figures in another 27 balls.

For once, India’s spinners were ineffective on a batting-friendly pitch.

Nissanka was out for 107 off 58, caught off Harshit Rana in the final over. Dasun Shanaka added 22 not out off 11 balls but failed to get Sri Lanka across the finish line.

It was the third instance of 200-plus totals in a tie between ICC full member teams, and India has been involved in two.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

India's Abhishek Sharma bats during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka plays a shot during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka plays a shot during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India's Arshdeep Singh tries unsuccessfully to run Sri Lanka's Dasun Shanaka out during the Asia Cup cricket match between India and Sri Lanka at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Ryan Preece won the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale at Daytona International Speedway in overtime Saturday night to take the final playoff spot.

Preece, who violently flipped twice in recent years at Daytona, moved to the front during a green-white-checkered finish. Leader Zane Smith got bumped from behind, started spinning and slamming into other cars on the last lap. Preece took the checkered flag under caution and edged Shane van Gisbergen for the 16th and final berth in the postseason finale.

“Thank you for giving me a rocket ship so I could go to the moon tonight,” Preece said.

Bubba Wallace and Austin Cindric locked up the other two available spots. Wallace, Cindric, van Gisbergen, Preece and Brad Keselowski started the night vying for the final three spots in the 10-race Chase for the championship.

Wallace, who was nearly a lock to make the 16-driver field when the green flag dropped, claimed his spot with a seventh-place finish in the opening stage. Cindric avoided trouble all night, finished sixth and advanced without much fanfare.

Daniel Suarez finished second in the race, followed by Michael McDowell, Tyler Reddick and Ricky Stenhouse Jr.

Van Gisbergen won Stage 1 and created more of a cushion on Preece, who was caught up in a three-car crash as he neared the finish line. Preece raced his way back to the front in Stage 2 and picked up much-needed points with a second-place finish behind Ryan Blaney.

But it came down to the final lap. Preece needed to win to get in — and he pulled it off in dramatic fashion.

It was set up when Carson Hocevar caused the OT finish by spinning while making a move toward the lead and slamming into the outside retaining wall with six laps to go. Hocevar got a big run, turned low, lost control and slid back across traffic. Erik Jones rear-ended him so hard that their cars were briefly stuck together.

Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel for a follow-up to “Days of Thunder.” The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday at Daytona he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle.

He said he wants to show audiences “the speed, the excitement and all that danger and stuff.”

Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.

Seven-time Cup Series champion Jimmie Johnson will drive a familiar-looking No. 48 in his final Cup Series start. Johnson unveiled his paint scheme for his Toyota in the 2027 Daytona 500 by driving a ceremonial lap around the track before Saturday’s race. The gray-and-blue scheme melds the three main sponsors during Johnson’s record-setting racing career: Lowe’s, Ally and Carvana.

Johnson’s final start will come in the 69th running of the Daytona 500, scheduled for Feb. 21, 2027. Hendrick Motorsports loaned Johnson the No. 48 for his last ride.

“Seeing this car for the first time brings back a lifetime of memories,” Johnson said.

Riley Herbst was scratched from the race because of “lingering effects” from a crash last weekend. Harrison Burton replaced Herbst in the No. 35 Toyota and finished xxx.

Herbst was involved in a crash at New Hampshire Motor Speedway last Sunday, with his car backing into the outside barrier before being struck again.

The 10-race Chase for the championship begins at Darlington Raceway next Sunday.

See AP’s full auto racing coverage here

Chase Elliott (9) leads Ryan Preece (60) through the front stretch at the half way point of the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Actor Tom Crusie exits the building after attending a drivers meeting before a NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Shane Van Gisbergen (97) comes in for a pit stop during the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Kyle Larson (5) and Chase Briscoe (19) lead a group through the front stretch during early laps in the NASCAR auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, in Daytona Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)