Colombo rains. A couple of tight games. And the Final match between India and Sri Lanka was expected to be an epic thriller. However, it turned out to be an all-time disaster for Sri Lanka as India registered a 10-wicket victory with ease after bowling out Sri Lanka for just 50 runs!
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| Image Credits: ESPN Cricinfo |
A crushing victory meant that India won the match to lift the Asia Cup title for a staggering 8th time, the seventh time in the ODI format and once in the T20 format in 2016. In what looked like a dry pitch, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first.
In no time, it started to rain and the groundstaff was quick to cover the whole ground in no time as always! The Asia Cup 2023 Final match finally started with a 40-minute delay. And Indian pacers made good use of the conditions after the rain break to derail Sri Lanka in no time!
Bumrah started to swing the ball both ways and picked up opener Kusal Perera in the very first over! Siraj wreaked havoc in the 4th over bagging 4 wickets. At that stage, his figures read 4-4 in 2 overs! How dramatic! Eventually, he ended up with figures of 6-21, bagging 2nd best figures in ODIs.
Incidentally, Siraj took just 16 deliveries to get his five-wicket haul which is the joint fastest five-wicket haul in ODIs alongside Chaminda Vaas and Ali Khan. While Siraj was on a break after his straight 7-over spell, Hardik Pandya bagged the remaining Sri Lankan 3 wickets to bowl them out for just 50 runs!
Sri Lanka created an unwanted record as their 50 was the lowest for any team in an ODI tournament Final! And their innings lasted just 15.2 overs! Kuldeep Yadav was the only other Indian bowler to bowl in this innings - 1 over for 1 run!
During the run-chase Indian openers did not break any sweat cruising them to a 10-wicket victory! Shubman Gill walked in with Ishan Kishan to open! Notably, India sent in Kishan in place of Rohit to give the left-hander batting practice in this low run-chase
Siraj bagged the Player of the Final award for his 6-wicket haul while Kuldeep Yadav bagged Player of the Series for his 9 wickets in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament!
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