India emerged triumphant as the Asia Cup 2023 champions, led by the phenomenal Mohammed Siraj. Sri Lanka, on the receiving end of a scintillating performance, found themselves bowled out for a mere 50 runs in 15.2 overs.
This dismal total not only marked their lowest ever against India but also ranks as the second-lowest in the history of the tournament. Notably, this was the fifth shortest completed innings in terms of overs when a team has been dismissed.
In response, India effortlessly chased down the target in a mere 37 balls, securing a resounding 10-wicket victory. This victory margin, measured by the number of balls remaining in the innings, stands as India’s largest, while it also inflicted the heaviest defeat upon Sri Lanka.
With this win, India solidified their status as Asia Cup champions for the eighth time, firmly establishing themselves as the most successful team in the tournament’s history.
The match began with Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, winning the toss and opting to bat first. However, little went their way as India’s bowlers exploited the overcast conditions, making the ball move unpredictably. Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood by dismissing Kusal Perera for a duck.
Yet, it was Siraj, Bumrah’s new-ball partner, who emerged as the game-changer. In a remarkable fourth over, Siraj claimed four wickets, initiating the collapse.
He started by having Pathum Nissanka caught at point on the very first ball, following it up with the dismissals of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka off the third and fourth deliveries. Samarawickrama was trapped lbw, while Asalanka was caught in the covers.
In the final delivery of that incredible over, he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind, and he continued his onslaught by dismissing Shanaka in his very next over.
Remarkably, Siraj achieved a five-for in just 16 balls, matching the world record for the quickest five-for since ball-by-ball data became available, previously held by Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas, who accomplished this feat against Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003.
After Siraj’s devastating spell, Sri Lanka found themselves at a precarious 12/6. Just when Kusal Mendis and Dunith Wellalage looked to stabilize, the fiery fast bowler struck again, breaking the fledgling partnership and claiming his sixth wicket.
There was no redemption for Sri Lanka after that fiery spell, and Hardik Pandya completed the formalities by taking the final three wickets, finishing with impressive figures of 3/3. Notably, all ten wickets in the Sri Lanka innings fell to the pacers.
Siraj concluded with match-winning figures of 6/21, setting a new benchmark as the best performance by a fast bowler in the Asia Cup, surpassing Aaqib Javed’s 5/19 against India at Sharjah in 1995.
This remarkable display also stands as the best performance by an Indian bowler in the tournament, eclipsing Arshad Ayub’s 5/21 against Pakistan in Dhaka back in 1988.
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