India has clinched the Asia Cup for the eighth time with an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka. The R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo bore witness to an extraordinary performance, with Mohammed Siraj spearheading India’s dominant display.
Leading India’s fast-bowling brigade, Siraj delivered a scintillating spell that left Sri Lanka in shambles. The summit clash turned into a one-sided affair as Siraj’s fiery spell decimated the Sri Lankan top-order.
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The entire Sri Lankan team was sent back to the pavilion in just 15.2 overs, managing a mere 50 runs. Siraj’s remarkable figures of six wickets in seven overs marked his best performance in ODIs and set the stage for India’s triumph.
Chasing a meager target of 51 runs, India’s opening duo of Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan displayed flawless batting, leaving no room for error. They launched an aggressive onslaught, with back-to-back boundaries off Matheesha Pathirana’s over.
Shubman Gill’s third over saw three successive boundaries off Pramod Madushan, quickly propelling India to 32/0. On the first delivery of the 7th over, Ishan Kishan secured the single that sealed India’s assertive 10-wicket victory.
The tone for India’s dominant performance was set early in the game by Jasprit Bumrah, who made an impact in the third ball of his first over. Siraj followed suit with a maiden over, paving the way for his spell that left the stadium in awe.
Siraj’s second over sent Pathum Nissanka back for just 2 runs, followed by a sharp inswinging delivery that dismissed Samarawickrama for a two-ball duck.
Charith Asalanka, who had been a match-winner for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, was next in line, but he fell prey to Siraj’s tactics, offering a catch to Ishan Kishan at covers.
With a hat-trick opportunity looming, Siraj persisted with his inswinging deliveries, eventually finding the edge of Dhananjaya de Silva’s bat, leading to a comfortable catch by KL Rahul behind the stumps. Siraj’s four-wicket over was a rarity in ODI cricket and especially notable in a title match.
But Siraj wasn’t done yet. He went on to shatter the stumps of skipper Dasun Shanaka, sending him back without contributing any runs. This remarkable feat marked the first instance of India taking six wickets in the first 10 overs of an ODI match.
As Bumrah left the attack, Hardik Pandya joined forces with the fiery Siraj. Kusal Mendis, who had appeared somewhat settled on the pitch, became Siraj’s next victim, with an inswinging delivery crashing into his stumps.
Dunith Wellalage, the hero of Sri Lanka’s previous encounter with India, could not replicate his earlier success. Pandya dismissed him with a directed bouncer, resulting in a catch by Rahul.
Pandya continued his impact, sending Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana back to the pavilion, ending Sri Lanka’s innings in a swift and dramatic manner.
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first had backfired as they were unable to withstand India’s relentless bowling attack. India’s remarkable win in just over two hours marked their return to dominance in the Asia Cup, securing the coveted trophy after a five-year hiatus.
Full Scorecard: India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup Final Match Scorecard
Brief Score:
- Sri Lanka 50 (Kusal Mendis 17; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3)
- India 51/0 (Ishan Kishan 23, Shubman Gill 27; Dunith Wellalage 0-7).
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