India clinched the Asia Cup title with a resounding 10-wicket victory over defending champions Sri Lanka in the final match. Mohammed Siraj delivered a career-best performance with a remarkable 6-21.
In a dominating display, India clinched the Asia Cup title with a resounding 10-wicket victory over defending champions Sri Lanka in the final match held at the R Premadasa Stadium. The hero of the day was Mohammed Siraj, who delivered a career-best performance with a remarkable 6-21, including a stunning four-wicket haul in a single over.
Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first backfired as they were bowled out for a meager 50 runs in just 15.2 overs, with five of their batsmen failing to score a run. Siraj wreaked havoc with his precision bowling.
Siraj’s brilliance was showcased in the second over, where he dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva in quick succession.
Hardik Pandya contributed with three wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with one, causing Sri Lanka to register their second-lowest total in one-day internationals, lasting a mere 92 balls.
India wasted no time in chasing down the target, taking just 6.1 overs to secure victory. This triumph provided a significant morale boost for India ahead of the upcoming home World Cup starting next month.
After the match, Mohammed Siraj expressed his delight, stating, “It’s like a dream.” He also mentioned his previous encounters with Sri Lanka and his focus on maintaining line and length to take wickets.
Jasprit Bumrah played a pivotal role by removing Kusal Perera in the first over, triggering Sri Lanka’s batting collapse. Only Kusal Mendis (17) and Dushan Hemanta (13 not out) managed to reach double digits for the home side.
In a strategic move, India’s captain Rohit Sharma chose to send Ishan Kishan to open the innings with Shubman Gill, creating a left-right opening partnership. The openers performed brilliantly, ensuring a drama-free chase. Ishan Kishan remained unbeaten with 23 runs, scoring the winning run in a final match that concluded in just 21.3 overs. Shubman Gill, the tournament’s leading scorer, finished with an unbeaten 27.
Sri Lanka’s coach, Chris Silverwood, expressed disappointment with his team’s subpar batting performance.
Looking ahead, India is set to host Australia in a three-match ODI series, with both teams clashing again in their World Cup opener in Chennai on October 8th.
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