CHRIS DHAMBARAGE
COLOMBO – India produced a clinical bowling performance as they completed a resounding 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asia Cup 50-Overs Cricket Tournament final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
The Indian seamers spearheaded by Mohammad Siraj, played havoc with the Sri Lankan batting line-up as the home side folded up for a mere 50 runs – their second-lowest total in a One Day International (ODI) after they had elected to bat first.
The match of course, got underway after a 40-minute delay due to a slight drizzle yet the Sri Lankan innings was completed well ahead of the scheduled time as their batsmen managed to face only 15.2 overs.
The Indian fast bowlers completely rattled the Sri Lankan batsmen with swing and movement as Jasprit Bumrah struck as early as in the third delivery of the innings by removing Kusal Perera for a two-ball duck.
After two wicketless overs, Siraj came into the limelight and ripped through the cream of Sri Lanka’s batting in an action-packed fourth over.
Pathum Nissanka punched one to backward point, Sadeera Samarawickrama was trapped leg before wickets, Charith Asalanka chipped a catch to extra cover while Dhananjaya de Silva was caught behind as Siraj became the first Indian bowler to pick up four wickets in an over in ODIs.
Hardik Pandya also joined in the fun as he dismissed the promising Dunith Wellalage for eight as the home side slumped to 40 for eight in the 13th over.
Dushan Hemantha then scored some useful runs to avoid the ignominy of the lowest ODI total, but Pandya captured the wickets of Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana to end the Sri Lankan innings in the 16th over.
Openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan had little difficulties in negotiating the Sri Lankan bowlers as they raced to the target in 6.1 overs to give India their eighth Asia Cup title.
Chief scores
Sri Lanka: 50 in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17, Dushan Hemantha 13 n.o, Mohammed Siraj 6/21, Hardik Pandya 3/3)
India 51/0 in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27 n.o, Ishan Kishan 23 n.o).
