Siraj takes 6 as India destroy SL to win 8th Asia Cup

 Sun, 17 September 2023
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18:35
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India 51-0 (6.1 ovs) vs SL 50 (15.2 ovs) | Scorecard

India won their eighth Asia Cup title after routing defending champions Sri Lanka by 10 wickets with Mohammed Siraj claiming a career-best 6/21, including four wickets in one over, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

Electing to bat, Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry 50 in 15.2 overs with five batters getting ducks in their sorry-looking scorecard with Siraj the wrecker-in-chief.

Siraj's fiery display of pace bowling was best illustrated in his second over when the right-arm quick dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva to become the first Indian bowler to claim four wickets in an over in ODIs.

Hardik Pandya also bagged three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah claimed one as Sri Lanka registered their second lowest total in one-day internationals, lasting only 92 balls.

India needed 6.1 overs to achieve the target to register a comprehensive win by 10 wickets with 43.5 overs to spare -- their biggest victory in ODIs in terms of balls remaining.

Gill stroked his way to 27 from 19 balls, while Kishan made 23 from 18 balls as the two young openers finished off the job in grand style.
18:11

India demolish SL by 10 wickets

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India 51-0 (6.1 ovs) vs SL 50 (15.2 ovs) | Scorecard

Pathirana starts his new over with a wide full toss which Kishan eases past point for a four.

The next ball is a yorker which Kishan defends and then hits another full toss towards point where the fielder dives to his left and half stops it to concede just two runs.

Kishan's crisp drive is stopped by the fielder at mid-off for another single and Gill keeps out the yorker.

The last ball is a full toss on the pads as Gill clips it in fine style through square leg for a four as India close in on victory.

India race to 45 for no loss in five overs, needing six for an emphatic victory.

Wellalage continues as Kishan sweeps the second ball to deep square leg for a single.

Gill well forward to block the flighted delivery and pushes the next on the off-side.

He drives the last ball of the over through the covers for a four to level scores.

Kishan picks a single off Charith Asalanka to complete an emphatic victory for India.

India win by 10 wickets with 43.5 overs to spare -- their biggest victory in ODIs in terms of balls remaining -- to claim their eighth Asia Cup title.

Gill stroked his way to 27 from 19 balls, while Kishan made 23 from 18 balls as the two young openers finished off the job in grand style.
17:58

Gill, Kishan give India quickfire start

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India 34-0 (4 ovs) vs SL 50 | Scorecard

Madushan's length is slightly short as Gill slaps it on the bounce over point for a single and Kishan misses the clip next ball but manages to take a leg bye.

Gill plays a handsome frontfoot drive through the covers for a beautiful boundary as the pacer bowls it right in the slot.

The next ball is short and this time Gill uses his feet to punch it past point for another boundary.

Gill makes it a hat-trick of fours! The short ball from Madushan is despatched through midwicket for another boundary as India race towards victory and keeps strike with a single from the last ball, to get 15 from the third over.

Spinner Dunith Wellalage comes into the attack, to bowl the fourth over. Gill drives the first ball to long-off for a single and Kishan picks one off the next.

Gill at his watchful best as he shows some solid footwork to defend the rest of the over from Wellalage, who concedes just two runs in his first over.

India need 17 runs from 46 overs for victory!
17:49

Kishan, Gill give India flying start


India 17-0 (2 ovs) vs SL 50 | Scorecard

Change of openers for India as Ishan Kishan walks out to open the innings with Shubman Gill.

Will Kishan bat in his natural attacking fashion and take on the bowlers in the early overs? Or will he take his time considering the small target?

Pacer Pramod Madushan opens the bowling for Sri Lanka, who will still be in disbelief with their horror showing with the bat.

The first ball is pitched up as Kishan comes on the front foot and pushes it into the covers.

The next ball is full and swings but away from the off-stump as the left-hander is able to leave it easily.

He drives the third ball with a straight bat past mid-on for three runs to get off the mark.

Gill starts off with a crisp drive into the covers but can't find the gap but is beaten as he pokes at the length ball without any footwork.

The last ball is on the pads and this time Gill plays a superb flick through midwicket for a boundary.

Matheesha Pathirana from the other end. Kishan taps the second ball to mid-off and steals a quick run but the overthrow from the fielder gets him another extra run.

Kishan misses the flick off an overpitched delivery on the pads before he upper cuts the short wide delivery over the slips for a four.

Pathirana makes the mistake of bowling short and wide to Kishan, who hammers it past point for another boundary.

India off a flier as they race to 17 for no loss in two overs.
17:34

Siraj picks 6; SL bowled out for 50

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SL 50-all out (15.2 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Change of ends for Hardik. And he picks up his second wicket as Madushan throws his bat at a wide full delivery only to edge and is caught by Kohli in the slips for one.

Hardik strikes again off the very next delivery. Last man Matheesha Pathirana hits it straight to Kishan at point to perish first ball.

Sri Lanka are bowled out for 50 in 15.2 overs -- their lowest totals in ODIs against India.

This is Sri Lanka's second lowest total in 50-overs cricket and the lowest total by any team against India.

Siraj ripped apart the Sri Lankan batting line-up with sensational figures of 6/21 in seven overs, including four wickets in a single over -- the fourth best bowling figures by an Indian in ODIs.

These are the best figures by any bowler against Sri Lanka in ODIs, beating the previous record of Pakistan great Waqar Younis, who took 6/26 in 1990.

Hardik bagged 3/3 in 2.2 overs, while Bumrah took 1/23 in five overs.
17:07

Siraj picks 6; Sri Lanka 8 down

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SL 50-8 (15 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Siraj to bowl his seventh over as India go in for the kill. He starts with a wide down the leg side to Hemantha, who is beaten next ball by the inswinger.

He gets a thick inside edge off the next to fine leg and is coming back for the second but a wild throw from Kohli in his attempt to run out following the throw from Kuldeep from the deep has resulted in six overthrows.

Hemantha pushes the next on the off-side for a single and Madushan is struck on the pads by the inswinger as the leg before shout is turned down but they take a bye.

A good short ball from Siraj as Hemantha fends it on the off-side and plays and misses off the last ball, which is full and outside the off-stump.

Spin introduced as Kuldeep Yadav comes into the attack. Madushan clips the first ball through midwicket for a single to bring iup Sri Lanka's 50, in the 15th over.

The second ball goes straight on as Hemantha playing for the turn is beaten.

A few balls later, the right-hander is beaten again playing down the wrong line as the ball goes past the edge and he keeps out the last ball with a straight bat.
16:59

Siraj picks 6; Sri Lanka 8 down

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SL 40-8 (13 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Hardik also among the wickets! Wellalage is surprised by the sharp bouncer on the body as he is unable to get out of the way and is struck on the gloves with wicketkeeper Rahul taking another easy catch.

Wellalage was Sri Lanka's highest scorer of the innings with eight from 21 balls.

No 10 Pramod Madhushan out to bat in the 13th over. Madushan looks to duck under the bouncer but the ball doesn't rise much and the right-hander is struck on the helmet.
16:50

Siraj picks 6th wicket; SL 7 down

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SL 39-7 (12 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Change in the bowling as Hardik Pandya replaces Bumrah, who took 1/23 in five overs in his first spell.

He continues the trend as he beats Wellalage with the first ball angled across the left-hander, who pushes away from his body.

A watchful Wellalage defends the next few as Hardik keeps it on the stumps.

Wellalage looks to clip it across the line but is struck on the pads, however, the ball might have pitched outside leg-stump as the LBW shout is turned down.

Wellalage pulls the short ball but is not in control of the shot as the ball falls safely at deep square leg to get him a couple of runs.

Siraj to bowl his sixth over. Mendis, on 17 from 32 balls, hasn't learned from the mistakes of his team-mates. He has a big swing at the full delivery but is beaten by some away swing.

He perishes next delivery as Mendis plays another reckless shot and misses the inswinging delivery completely to be bowled.

Mendis walks back for 17 from 34 balls as Sri Lanka slip to 33/7 in the 12th over.

Dushan Hemantha misses the glance off the leg side delivery which is ruled a wide.

Hemantha flicks the next ball perfectly in the huge gap through midwicket for a four to get off the mark.

He gets a thick outside edge off the next for a single to thirdman and Wellalage keeps out the last ball.

Siraj has amazing figures of 6/13 in six overs, including a maiden.

Sri Lanka will be desperate to go past their lowest ever ODI total of 43 all out against South Africa in Paarl in January 2012.
16:38

Sri Lanka 6 down; Siraj takes5

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SL 31-6 (10 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Left-hander Wellalage clips Bumrah off his pads through midwicket for three runs.

Bumrah bowls it full on the stumps as Mendis defends and he misses the glance but gets a leg bye and Wellalage avoids the short ball outside the off-stump.

Siraj continues as Mendis does well to get off strike with a single on the leg side. Siraj gets the next ball to kick off length as Wellalage leaves and he is beaten two balls later trying to slash it past point.

He pushes the next to midwicket before Wellalage is beaten off the last ball by the length ball slanted across him.

In the next over, Bumrah overpitches as Mendis drives it straight and the fielder at mid-on dives across to half stop it and keep it down to two runs.

Mendis, who struggled to get bat on ball in the first few overs, is looking to bat positively now. He gets hold of the short wide delivery from Bumrah, slashing it over point for a four.

Two balls later, he edges the full delivery but it flies wide of the second slip fielder for another four followed by singles off the last two balls, as 12 come from the over.

The ball keeps low as Siraj's length ball to Wellalage, who leaves it, but the ball bounces quite a few times before reaching the wicketkeeper.

Wellalage taps the next for a single before Mendis is struck high on the pads by the incoming delivery.

He edges the next ball but it falls well short of Kohli at first slip and he keeps out the last two balls.
16:19

Siraj picks 5th wicket; SL collapse

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SL 13-6 (6 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

The home fans are in complete disbelief as they watch their team lose half of their batting inside the first four overs.

Bumrah continues as Mendis blocks the first followed by a leave before he is struck on the pads by the full incoming delivery.

He keeps out the last two balls as Bumrah bowls a maiden over.

Siraj nearly bags another wicket. He beats Dasun Shanaka with the first ball of his third over, the full outswinger going past the edge, and he again beats the right-hander next ball.

Siraj from the wide of the crease drags Shanaka to play away from his body and misses again.

Siraj completes his five wicket haul as he cleans up Shanaka with another beauty, the full delivery moving away late to crash into the off-stump.

Siraj has completed a sensational five-wicket haul from just 16 balls bowled so far as Sri Lanka slip to 12/6 in the sixth over.

No 8 Dunith Wellalage must have never imagined in his wildest dreams that he would walk out to bat in the sixth over.

He leaves the first ball before the left-hander hits the next to mid-off for a single.
16:07

Siraj blows away Lanka's top order


SL 12-5 (4 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

Nissanka taps the first ball of Bumrah's second over for a quick single to square leg.

Mendis continues to struggle as he tries to defend the full outswinger from Bumrah but is beaten and the same again next ball.

Mendis finally gets bat on ball as he pushes the fourth ball towards point.

Bumrah gets the fifth ball to swing in sharply as Mendis is struck high on the pads, followed by a leave.

Siraj strikes with the first ball of his second over. Nissanka plays an uppish drive but Jadeja dives to his right at point and comes up with a stunning catch.

Two balls later, Siraj strikes again. Sadeera Samarawickrama is beaten all ends up by the inswinger and is given out leg before wicket.

He takes the review but to no avail as the ball has struck in line and going on to hit the leg stump.

Sri Lanka off to a horror start as they are reeling on 8/3 in the fourth over.

Another one for Siraj off the very next delivery, his third wicket of the over.

Left-hander Charith Asalanka drives the full delivery straight into the hands of Ishan Kishan in the covers.

Siraj on a hat-trick!

Dhananjaya de Silva denies Siraj the hat-trick as he drives the full delivery past the vacant mid-on region for a four. Infact, Siraj went chasing after the ball all the way to the boundary but could not stop it.

That boundary takes Sri Lanka's score into double digits after they have lost four wickets in the first four overs.

Siraj strikes with the last ball of the over. De Silva pokes away from his body and gets the edge to be caught behind for four.

Sri Lanka in complete tatters on 12/5 in four overs, with Siraj takes four wickets in his second over.
15:51

Bumrah strikes in first over!

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SL 7-1 (2 ovs) vs India | Scorecard

The start of play is delayed by 40 minutes because of rain.

Jasprit Bumrah starts off with the ball for India. Some swing for Bumrah straightaway as Pathum Nissanka gets the thick outside edge which runs towards thirdman for a single.

Kusal Perera is beaten next ball as Bumrahj gets the balls to move away.

Bumrah strikes with third ball. The left-hander Perera drives away from his body and gets the edge to be caught by wicketkeeper K L Rahul for a duck.

What a dream start for India!

Kusal Mendis gets a full toss first ball which he drives past mid-off for a boundary to get off the mark in style.

The next ball is a big outswinger but away from the stumps and is called a wide.

Bumrah bowls another beauty as Mendis edges the full delivery but it flies wide of the stumps for a single to thirdman and Nissanka keeps out the last ball to end an eventful first over.

Mohammed Siraj from the other end. The first ball is away from the stumps as Mendis leaves before he plays and misses next ball trying to drive the full delivery which swings away to go past the edge.

Another leave from Mendis before Siraj beats him again with an unplayable outswinger, drawing the right-hander forward before it goes past the edge.

Siraj produces another cracking delivery which swings away quite a bit to beat the edge.

Three slips in place as Mendis plays and misses for the fourth time in the over as he looks to defend.

Siraj makes a superb start with a maiden over.
15:29

Match to start at 3.40pm IST


SL 0-0 (0 ov) vs India | Scorecard

The covers have been taken off and the umpires have checked the condition of the outfield before deciding that play will start at 3.40pm IST.

It was not a heavy shower and the entire ground was covered which has enabled play to start so quickly after the rain stopped.

Sri Lanka have elected to bat in the final.
15:12

SL elect to bat in final

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SL 0-0 (0 ov) vs India | Scorecard

Rain has delayed the start of the Asia Cup final. There is a sudden downpour at the R Premadasa stadium delaying the start after Sri Lanka had won the toss and elected to bat.

The groundstaff once again quick on their feet as they dash out to cover the entire outfield in a matter of a couple of minutes.
14:44

Sundar replaces injured Axar

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The toss could be a big advantage for Sri Lanka with teams batting first winning four out of the five matches played in this Asia Cup. However, this is a brand new pitch and the conditions could vary from the previous games.

Sri Lanka will be boosted by their good showing with the ball against India in the Super Fours match. Even though they were beaten, Sri Lanka did well to bowl out the strong Indian batting line-up for 213 on a turning track.

India have stumbled coming into the final, losing against Bangladesh after they opted to rest a few of their key players.

India have three specialist spinners in their team, while Sri Lanka also have three spin options in their playing XI.

Check out the playing XIs of the two teams:

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (w/k), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana

India: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, K L Rahul (w/k), Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
14:33

Sundar replaces injured Axar


Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka has won the toss and elected to bat against India in the Asia Cup final on Sunday.

India have made quite a few changes to the team which played against Bangladesh on Friday.

Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Siraj are back in the playing XI.

In another important change, spin all-rounder Washington Sundar, who was rushed to Colombo on Saturday, has been drafted in the playing XI in place of Axar, who was ruled out with injury.

Sri Lanka have made one change with Dushan Hemantha replacing the injured Maheesh Theekshana.
14:24

'Dry' pitch for Asia Cup final


"This is a dry surface. If I am captain, it is a nice hot day, let's bat first and see if the wicket spins at night," says former England pacer Dominic Cork in his pitch report.

14:17

India aim to end trophy drought

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Welcome to the coverage of the Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma-led India will be firm favourites to end its five-year trophy draught in multi-nation events, when it squares off against a depleted Sri Lanka in the final.

India spin all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the title clash with injury and his replacement Washington Sundar is likely to take his place in the playing XI.

Sri Lanka were dealt a big blow when their premier spinner Maheesh Theekshana was ruled out with a right hamstring injury.

India's last title in multi-nation events, across the three formats, came in 2018 when India beat Bangladesh in the Asia Cup by three wickets in Dubai.

India reached the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, besides losing against New Zealand and Australia in the WTC finals in 2019 and 2023 respectively. They also failed to make their presence felt in last year's Asia Cup, which was won by Sri Lanka. That event was played in T20 format.

India are certain to recall their top players who were rested for the Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday, which they eventually lost by six runs.

The return of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya for the summit clash will certainly add meat to their batting unit, which struggled against the array of Bangladesh spinners.

Opener Shubman Gill made a top class hundred, but the rest of the batsmen could not rotate strike effectively in the middle overs, leaving the late order with a tall task.

India had reduced Bangladesh to 59 for 4, but the bowlers gave away too many runs in the death overs, allowing their neighbours to post a healthy 265.

But India will hope that the issue will be solved once pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav make their comeback for tomorrow's game.

A victory in the Asia Cup final will boost India's confidence ahead of the World Cup starting next month, as they also seek to end a 10-year-long ICC trophy drought.

14:15

India aim to end trophy drought


Welcome to the coverage of the Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.

Rohit Sharma-led India will be firm favourites to end its five-year trophy draught in multi-nation events, when it squares off against a depleted Sri Lanka in the final.

India spin all-rounder Axar Patel has been ruled out of the title clash with injury and his replacement Washington Sundar is likely to take his place in the playing XI.

Sri Lanka were dealt a big blow when their premier spinner Maheesh Theekshana was ruled out with a right hamstring injury.

India's last title in multi-nation events, across the three formats, came in 2018 when India beat Bangladesh in the Asia Cup by three wickets in Dubai.

India reached the semi-finals of the 50-over World Cup in 2019 and the T20 World Cup in 2022, besides losing against New Zealand and Australia in the WTC finals in 2019 and 2023 respectively. They also failed to make their presence felt in last year's Asia Cup, which was won by Sri Lanka. That event was played in T20 format.

India are certain to recall their top players who were rested for the Super Four match against Bangladesh on Friday, which they eventually lost by six runs.

The return of Virat Kohli and Hardik Pandya for the summit clash will certainly add meat to their batting unit, which struggled against the array of Bangladesh spinners.

Opener Shubman Gill made a top class hundred, but the rest of the batsmen could not rotate strike effectively in the middle overs, leaving the late order with a tall task.

India had reduced Bangladesh to 59 for 4, but the bowlers gave away too many runs in the death overs, allowing their neighbours to post a healthy 265.

But India will hope that the issue will be solved once pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav make their comeback for tomorrow's game.

A victory in the Asia Cup final will boost India's confidence ahead of the World Cup starting next month, as they also seek to end a 10-year-long ICC trophy drought.