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DUBAI: Defending champions India survived Pathum Nissanka’s blistering hundred and some intense Super Over drama before beating Sri Lanka in a dead rubber to maintain their unbeaten run in the Asia Cup on Friday.

With India having already secured their place in Sunday’s final against Pakistan and Sri Lanka eliminated, the Super Fours clash was of merely academic interest but it turned out to be the most exciting game of this year’s tournament.

Sri Lanka gave a good account of themselves and matched India’s 202-5 to force the Super Over after Nissanka (107) smashed the first individual hundred of this year’s tournament.

Sri Lanka, however, managed only two runs in the Super Over before losing both the wickets in five deliveries from Arshdeep Singh.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav took three runs from the first delivery from Wanindu Hasaranga to seal their victory in a matter-of-fact way.

Earlier, put into bat, 20-overs world champions India racked up the tournament’s first 200-plus total riding opener Abhishek Sharma’s third consecutive fifty in the tournament.

Abhishek, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, maintained his red-hot form with a sizzling 61 off 31 balls.

Opening partner Shubman Gill fell for four and skipper Suryakumar’s (12) slump in form continued but India did not really suffer as Abhishek raced to a 22-ball fifty.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka removed Abhishek but Tilak Varma, who made 49 not out, and Sanju Samson (39) maintained the pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers.

In their chase, Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis for a duck in the first over but cruised to 72-1 after the six powerplay overs.

India rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, while Hardik Pandya bowled just one over before leaving the field.

Nissanka needed 25 balls to bring up his fifty and Kusal Perera (58) could not be denied his half-century either.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy broke the 127-run stand when he dismissed Perera.

Nissanka raced to a 52-ball hundred but fell in the first ball of the last over, which ended with Sri Lanka also on 202-5 forcing the Super Over.

MUNICH, Germany: Forward Harry Kane struck twice, including a record-extending first half penalty, to reach 100 goals across all competitions for the German champions as they cruised to a 4-0 victory over visitors Werder Bremen on Friday.

The England captain, who scored a hat trick last week in their 4-1 win over Hoffenheim, put Bayern 2-0 up in the 44th minute with a penalty, his 18th consecutive successful spot kick in the Bundesliga for a flawless record.

Jonathan Tah had given the hosts a deserved lead in the 22nd with a deflected backheel flick.

Kane added another in the 65th, pouncing on a deflected Luis Diaz shot to drill in from close range and reach his century of goals in 104 matches across all competitions for Bayern. He has reached that mark faster than any player in the top five European leagues since 2000.

“Another great performance,” Kane said. “We had a good start to the game, we could’ve scored a goal or two early in the game. We then grew into the game and got the goals. It was another dominant performance.”

His performances for Bayern this season have fanned speculation about a possible move back to the Premier League through an exit clause in his contract. However, Kane, whose deal with Bayern runs to 2027, said he was not thinking of a return at this stage.

“No, not at the moment. I’m really happy here. I have two years left on my contract,” Kane said. “I’m enjoying every moment. That is not in my thought process. I’m enjoying it with the team, with the coach, and hopefully we continue to be successful.”

The 32-year-old, leading Bundesliga scorer with 10 goals in Bayern’s five games so far, joined from Tottenham Hotspur in 2023.

Werder had keeper Karl Hein to thank for keeping the scoreline respectable after he made close to a dozen crucial saves, including stopping Kane and substitute Nicolas Jackson in one-on-ones.

But the Estonian keeper could do nothing when Konrad Laimer slipped through with a quick one-two, to finish off the move in the 87th for Bayern’s 22nd league goal.

The Bavarians, who take on Pafos in Cyprus for the Champions League on Tuesday, are in top spot on 15 points. Second-placed Borussia Dortmund, on 10, are in action at Mainz 05 on Saturday.