After a fiery and scintillating spell of pace bowling from Mohammed Siraj, India beat Sri Lanka by a comprehensive margin of 10 wickets in the Asia Cup 2023 final in Colombo on Sunday. With this win, India have won their eighth Asia Cup trophy.
This win was all down to one man and that is India’s pacer Mohammed Siraj. His six-wicket haul and four wickets in one over dismantled Sri Lanka for just 50 in 15.4 overs after the Lankans won the toss and choose to bat first. Sri Lanka’s batsmen had no answer to Siraj’s pace, swing and bounce. He constantly hit the right areas and took the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka in just one over. Siraj ended his spell with terrific figures of 21/6 in seven overs.
Everyone was expecting a thrilling final after both the teams played good cricket on their road to the final. However, it was anti-climactic in many ways, but in so many other ways a culmination of what a cricketing juggernaut this India team have become. Mohammed Siraj decimated Sri Lanka's batters and then India's youthful opening pair of Shubnam Gill and Ishan Kishan, on the very same swinging track, knocked off the required 51 runs in just 37 deliveries!
India's onslaught began with Jasprit Bumrah getting an edge over Kusal Perera (0). Sri Lanka's top-order folded like playing cards in the fourth over of the game when Siraj took four consecutive wickets in an over.
He then came back and dismissed Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka, thus completing his five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka were left reeling at 12/6 in 5.4 overs.
Kusal Mendis tried to form resistance but could not stay long enough as he was castled by Siraj on 17 runs which was also the highest score among batters.
Hardik Pandya clutched the tail-enders as he scalped three wickets in just 2.2 overs. Dushan Hemantha was unbeaten on 13 runs as the host managed to set 51 runs.