COLOM BO: India beat Sri Lanka in an interesting encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 final.
Sri Lanka will now face Pakistan in a knockout clash on Thursday, Sept.15.
The winner of the Sri Lanka vs. Pakistan match will play take on India in the finals on Sunday.
Sri Lanka came into this game having won 13 consecutive ODIs. The run that started in the World Cup Qualifiers has extended to the Asia Cup. Sri Lanka have gone about their business registering one win after another. Playing with the same bunch of guys has given them that consistency and familiarity.
India has become the first finalist of this edition of the Asia Cup. We will have a day’s break now, and the action in the 2023 Asia Cup will resume on September 14, when Sri Lanka will take on Pakistan in what will be a virtual semi-final. The first ball will be bowled at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT).
Dunith Wellalage is the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. He starts by congratulating the Indian team for winning the game. Adds that they have another game to get to the finals. Mentions that he has been working hard since a very young age with a positive mindset which has helped him to mature early in this game. Ends by thanking his teammates and the support staff for their support.
The skipper of India, Rohit Sharma, says that it was a good game. Adds that it was nice to play under pressure. Mentions that they are thinking of playing on such challenging wickets. Shares that this game challenged a lot of aspects of their game. On Hardik Pandya, he says that he has been working hard on his bowling and it was pleasing to see the way he bowled. On Kuldeep Yadav, he says that he has been bowling well and has worked on his rhythm. Adds that the ball is coming out of his hand nicely which is a good sign. Sri Lanka’s skipper Dasun Shanaka says that he expected a batting track at this level of the tournament. Credits his spinners to bring for taking all 10 wickets. Shares that he is happy about the outcome with the bowling side. Praises young Dunith Wellalage for picking up 5 wickets and says that he knew it was going to be his day today after his performance against Bangladesh
