India crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to win a record extending eighth Asia Cup title riding on Mohammed Siraj’s fiery six wicket spell in the final
India defeated Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the Asia Cup 2023 to win their record-extending eighth Asia Cup title. Mohammed Siraj led the way as he picked up six wickets to restrict the defending champions to a total of 50 runs. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill breezed through the chase of 51 as India won the final by 10 wickets at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, September 10.
Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl however his decision backfired in epic proportions as Siraj’s six-wicket haul left the Sri Lanka batters in all kinds of trouble. The 29-year-old gave away just 21 runs and scalped six, including four in just one over.
Siraj then joined the party as he removed Pathum Nissanka on 2 with Ravindra Jadeja taking a sharp catch on the field. The fourth over of Sri Lanka’s inning left them in shock as Nissanka was dismissed on the first ball, on the third ball, Sadeera Samarawickrama was then dismissed LBW as Siraj got rid of Charith Asalanka on the next ball with Kishan taking the catch.
Siraj was on a hat-trick but missed out on becoming just the third bowler to pick up a hat-trick in the Asia Cup.
Dhanjaya de Silva was dismissed on 4 on the last ball of the over and then he completed a five-wicket haul inside 16 balls, a historic feat for the Indian bowlers. Dasun Shanaka was the fifth wicket of Siraj before the star pacer made it six wickets by getting rid of Kusal Mendis on 17 who was the highest run-scorer of the Sri Lankan batting order.
Read More: Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi Involved in Heated Exchange After Pakistan’s Asia Cup Exit: Reports
Hardik Pandya then chipped in with three wickets getting rid of the hero of the previous meeting between India and Sri Lanka – Dunith Wellalage who got five wickets against India and scored 42 runs in the Super 4 fixture. Pandya removed Pramod Madhushan on 1 and then the side bundled out for just 50 runs with Matheesha Pathirana becoming the latest casualty on a duck.
India were given a target of 51 runs to win a record-extending eighth Asia Cup title, Rohit decided to promote Ishan who opened alongside Gill as the duo breezed through the chase.
Kishan scored an unbeaten knock of 23 runs in 18 balls including 3 fours, while Gill smashed 27 in 19 balls with six boundaries to complete the chase.
