Asia Cup 2023 Final: Mohammad Siraj on fire as India crush Sri Lanka by 10 wickets

Siraj’s sensational spell

The match was delayed by 40 minutes due to rain and Sri Lanka opted to bat first after winning the toss. However, they had no answer to the pace and swing of Siraj, who ran through their batting line-up with a sensational spell of 6/21 in six overs. He became the first bowler to take six wickets in an ODI against Sri Lanka and the second Indian after Ashish Nehra to take six wickets in an Asia Cup match.

Siraj started his onslaught in his second over, when he dismissed four batsmen in five balls. He first trapped Avishka Fernando lbw with a full delivery that nipped back in. He then bowled Pathum Nissanka with a similar ball that crashed into the off-stump. He followed it up with another lbw, this time getting rid of Dhananjaya de Silva with a ball that straightened after pitching. He completed his four-wicket over by having Minod Bhanuka caught behind with a short ball that took the edge.

Siraj was not done yet, as he came back for his third over and removed Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka with another lbw decision. He achieved his five-wicket haul in just 17 balls, the second-fastest by an Indian after Irfan Pathan’s 16-ball effort against Bangladesh in 2004. He then added one more scalp to his tally, when he had Kusal Mendis caught at mid-off with a slower ball.

Siraj’s figures of 6/21 are the best by any bowler in an ODI in Sri Lanka, surpassing Chaminda Vaas’ 6/25 against Bangladesh in 2001. He also became the fourth Indian bowler to take six wickets in an ODI, joining Anil Kumble, Ashish Nehra and Kuldeep Yadav.

Hardik Pandya finishes off Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka were reduced to 12/6 in 5.4 overs and never recovered from Siraj’s onslaught. Hardik Pandya, who was playing as a specialist batsman due to his back injury, chipped in with three wickets to wrap up the innings. He dismissed Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera and Praveen Jayawickrama in quick succession, leaving Sri Lanka all out for 50 in 15.4 overs.

This was Sri Lanka’s second-lowest total in ODIs, only better than their 43 against South Africa in 2012. It was also the lowest total by any team in an Asia Cup match, breaking Bangladesh’s record of 87 against Pakistan in 2000.

Ishan Kisan and Shubman Gill seal the chase

India had no trouble chasing down the paltry target, as Ishan Kisan and Shubman Gill put on an unbeaten opening stand of 51 runs in 6.1 overs. Ishan Kisan scored 23 not out off 18 balls.

Shubman Gill scored 27 not out off 19 balls, hitting three fours and a six. He finished as the highest run-scorer of the tournament with 302 runs at an average of 88 and a strike rate of 106.45. He also won the Player of the Tournament award for his consistent performances.

India reached the target with 43.5 overs to spare, which is the largest margin of victory by balls remaining in ODIs. They also registered their biggest win by wickets in ODIs, equalling their previous record of winning by 10 wickets against Kenya in 2001 and Zimbabwe in 2005.

India lifted their eighth Asia Cup trophy, extending their dominance in the continental tournament. They have won the title more times than any other team, followed by Sri Lanka with five titles and Pakistan with two titles.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, suffered their fourth defeat in an Asia Cup final, having lost to India in 2010, Pakistan in 2012 and Bangladesh in 2018. They have not won a major trophy since their triumph in the T20 World Cup in 2014.

The Asia Cup 2023 final was a one-sided affair, as India crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets. Mohammad Siraj was the hero of the match, taking a record-breaking six-wicket haul to bowl out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs. Ishan Kisan and Shubman Gill then completed the chase in 6.1 overs, giving India their eighth Asia Cup title. India proved their supremacy in the Asian cricket, while Sri Lanka were left to rue their dismal performance in the final. https://gamingpur.com/after-chandrayaan-isro-preps-for-gaganyaan-mission/