Colombo – Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj delivered a mesmerizing performance, claiming figures of 6-21, as India secured their eighth Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in a commanding display.
Siraj’s extraordinary feat included taking four wickets in a single over, which ultimately resulted in Sri Lanka’s abysmal total of 50. The Indian opening pair of Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill showcased their prowess by reaching the target in just 6.1 overs, marking an emphatic victory in preparation for next month’s One-Day International (ODI) World Cup, hosted in India.
This 50-over contest, however, left a nearly full stadium of spectators disappointed, as they witnessed only 116 minutes of play. The hosts opted to bat first after a delayed start due to rain. India’s pace spearhead, Jasprit Bumrah, made an immediate impact by dismissing Kusal Perera for a duck in the very first over.
Mohammed Siraj then took center stage, expertly utilizing the overcast conditions to make the ball swing and seam. He surpassed his previous ODI best of 4-32 by claiming the wickets of Pathum Nissanka and removing Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka on successive deliveries, narrowly missing a hat-trick.
Dhananjaya de Silva managed to strike a boundary, but his resistance was short-lived as Siraj had him caught behind with the following delivery, much to the delight of the Indian supporters.
Siraj’s remarkable performance continued as he dismissed Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, equalling an ODI record for the fastest five-wicket haul, achieved within his first 16 balls of the match. Kusal Mendis put up some resistance with three boundaries but became Siraj’s sixth victim, narrowly avoiding Sri Lanka’s lowest-ever ODI total of 35, set by Zimbabwe.
Hardik Pandya contributed to Sri Lanka’s swift demise, taking three wickets to conclude their innings in just 90 minutes. In an innings plagued by five ducks, Kusal Mendis’ 17 and an unbeaten 13 by Dushan Hemantha were the only double-digit scores.
India’s opening batsmen, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, began the chase with determination. Gill, who had scored a century in the previous match, started with a boundary in the opening over and remained unbeaten with 27 runs. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan, with 23 runs, joined the batting masterclass.
Ishan Kishan, a left-handed batsman, unleashed two successive boundaries against fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana, while Gill added three more boundaries in a row, culminating in India’s triumph in the tournament’s briefest final.
Under Rohit Sharma’s leadership, India suffered only one defeat throughout the tournament, a Super Four match against Bangladesh that held no significant consequences. Sri Lanka, who had emerged as underdogs and secured their spot in the Super Fours with a dramatic victory over Afghanistan, faltered in their 11th final, failing to offer a competitive challenge.
By AFP
