In a stunning display of pace bowling, Mohammed Siraj left cricket fans in awe as he claimed 6 wickets for just 21 runs, leading India to a resounding 10-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in final of Asia Cup which played at the R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
This victory secured India’s eighth Asia Cup title and served as a confident prelude to the upcoming one-day international (ODI) World Cup on home turf next month.
Sri Lanka’s batting woes were evident as they were bundled out for a mere 50 runs, a total that India’s opening duo, Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill, easily surpassed in just 6.1 overs, sealing a comprehensive win.
Opting to bat first after a delayed start due to rain, Sri Lanka faced an early setback when pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Kusal Perera for a duck in the very first over. However, it was Mohammed Siraj who stole the show, capitalizing on overcast conditions to produce a spellbinding performance.
Siraj’s remarkable feat included a breathtaking four-wicket over, decimating Sri Lanka’s top order. He dismissed Pathum Nissanka for just two runs and then struck on successive balls to send Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka back to the pavilion, narrowly missing a hat-trick.
Dhananjaya de Silva provided a brief respite for Sri Lanka with a boundary, but his stay was short-lived as Siraj had him caught behind with the very next delivery.
Siraj’s fifth victim was Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, equalling an ODI record for the fastest five-wicket haul in just his first 16 balls of the match. Kusal Mendis managed to score three boundaries before becoming Siraj’s sixth and final victim, preventing Sri Lanka from recording their lowest-ever ODI total of 35, held by Zimbabwe.
Hardik Pandya chipped in with three wickets to wrap up the Sri Lankan innings in a mere 90 minutes. The only double-digit scores in Sri Lanka’s innings were Kusal Mendis with 17 and an unbeaten 13 by Dushan Hemantha, while the rest of the lineup featured five ducks.
India’s chase got off to a flying start, with Shubman Gill hitting a boundary in the opening over. Gill’s partner, Ishan Kishan, joined the run fest with a quickfire 23.
Ishan Kishan, in particular, was aggressive, smashing fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for consecutive boundaries. Gill followed suit, hitting three more boundaries in a row, which culminated in India clinching victory in what will be remembered as the tournament’s shortest final.
