Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 6-21 to lead India’s rout of Sri Lanka by 10 wickets as they clinched their eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday.
Siraj got four wickets in one over to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 50, a total the Indian openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill surpassed in 6.1 overs for an impressive victory ahead of next month’s ODI World Cup at home.
Sri Lanka’s miserably low total in the 50-over contest left a nearly packed house disappointed after they witnessed just 116 minutes of play.
The hosts elected to bat first following a delayed start due to rain and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah struck first with the wicket of Kusal Perera, caught behind for a duck in the first over.
Siraj soon took over as he made the ball swing and seam in overcast conditions to easily surpass his previous ODI best of 4-32.
He got Pathum Nissanka for two and then struck on successive balls to send back Sadeera Samarawickrama (0) and Charith Asalanka (0), but a hat-trick was averted.
Dhananjaya de Silva hit a boundary but Siraj had him caught behind with the next ball, much to the delight of the Indian fans.
Siraj got his fifth with the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, equalling an ODI record for the fastest five-wicket haul from his first 16 balls of the match.
Kusal Mendis hit three boundaries before becoming Siraj’s sixth wicket, although Sri Lanka avoided the lowest-ever ODI total of 35 by Zimbabwe.
After Virat Kohli’s overthrow went for a boundary, and six more runs to the total, Sri Lanka pushed past their lowest ODI total of 43 scored against South Africa in 2012.
Hardik Pandya took three wickets to wrap up the innings in just 90 minutes.
Mendis’ 17 and an unbeaten 13 by Dushan Hemantha were the only double-digit scores in an innings that featured five ducks.
Gill, a centurion in the previous match, began with a boundary in the opening over on his way to an unbeaten 27 and fellow opener Ishan Kishan (23) soon joined the party.
The left-handed Kishan smashed fast bowler Matheesha Pathirana for two successive boundaries, and three more in a row from Gill gave India victory in the tournament’s shortest final.
Rohit Sharma’s India dropped just one match in the tournament after they lost an inconsequential Super Four contest against Bangladesh.
Sri Lanka, who won the previous edition of the Asia Cup played in the T20 format, came in as underdogs and snuck into the Super Fours with a dramatic win over Afghanistan but went down without a fight in their 11th final.
50 is the new 49 ? 😄 #AsiaCup #INDvSL
— S.Badrinath (@s_badrinath) September 17, 2023
That's destruction & annihilation.
— Shoaib Akhtar (@shoaib100mph) September 17, 2023
You know a teams in trouble when they've only scored 5 boundaries in an inning in a 50 over match. #INDvsSL
— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) September 17, 2023
Castled! 💥
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 17, 2023
Mohd. Siraj gets his 6⃣th wicket 👏👏
Sri Lanka 33/7 in the 12th over.
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/xrKl5d85dN#AsiaCup2023 | #TeamIndia | #INDvSL pic.twitter.com/PqrdOm60Kb
#AsiaCup2023 #INDvSL
— The Field (@thefield_in) September 17, 2023
ABSOLUTE ANNHILATION👊
Hardik Pandya finishes with three wickets as Sri Lanka are bundled out inside 16 overs.
SL: 50/10 (16.2)
📸: Hotstarhttps://t.co/GxF1HoVnzQ pic.twitter.com/lC5VoX7bEw
A spell to remember for ages by @mdsirajofficial 👏🏾👏🏾 His impeccable line, length, and nerves of steel single-handedly dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. @hardikpandya7 wrapped up the last two wickets to restrict the Lankans to a frugal 50!!#IndvSL #AsiaCupFinal
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) September 17, 2023
Siraj has great skills and big heart to get a batter to edge and hit the stump on flat pitch. Mohammed Siraj will be India’s ब्रहमास्त्र at World Cup at home. @mdsirajofficial
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) September 17, 2023
Spectacular Siraj 🙇♂️ #AsiaCup #IndvSL
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 17, 2023
Alexa, what’s the weather like today? ☀️”
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 17, 2023
“Alexa: Sorry, the forecast is Siraj’s spell - unpredictable! 🌧️🏏
My God 🤯 Sri Lanka 13/6 in 6overs.
— Urooj Mumtaz Khan (@uroojmumtazkhan) September 17, 2023
Exceptional swing and seam bowling by Siraj -
A 5fer he will cherish for a life time!
Sri Lanka blown away!@mdsirajofficial #AsiaCup23 #SLvIND
#AsiaCup2023 #INDvSL
— The Field (@thefield_in) September 17, 2023
INDIA WINS THE 2023 ASIA CUP🏆
Ishan Kishan (23*) and Shubman Gill (27*) take India home unscathed to record a 10-wicket win.
SL: 50/0 (15.2)
IND: 51/0 (6.1)
📸: Hotstarhttps://t.co/GxF1HoVnzQ pic.twitter.com/Qnm3B0vxRr
Too good. 21 overs in the match and done and dusted. Mohammad Siraj was simply outstanding and we have peaked at the right time before the World Cup. Congratulations Team on winning the Asia Cup. #BHAvsSL pic.twitter.com/CQmj1gXimG
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) September 17, 2023
Blink and it’s over!! Team India couldn’t have asked for a better win. @mdsirajofficial walked all over the reigning champions and India seals a thumping win to lift the Asia Cup for the 8th time 🔥 Sheer cricketing brilliance!! Congratulations 👏🏾#IndvSL #AsiaCupFinal2023 pic.twitter.com/WX3iYxrvjE
— Robin Aiyuda Uthappa (@robbieuthappa) September 17, 2023
𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐀 𝐖𝐈𝐍!!! 🏏🔥🇮🇳
— MANOJ TIWARY (@tiwarymanoj) September 17, 2023
Possibly the finest performance in an #AsiaCup final by TEAM INDIA! 🇮🇳
Ruthless, dominant, sensational, heroic cricket!
WE ARE THE 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 OF 𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐀!🏆
JAI HIND!! 🇮🇳🔥🏏#Siraj #AsiaCup23 #IndvSL #IndVsSL #AsiaCupFinal #50AllOut pic.twitter.com/1VGa09gScK
𝙒𝙃𝘼𝙏. 𝘼. 𝙒𝙄𝙉! 😎
— BCCI (@BCCI) September 17, 2023
A clinical show in the summit clash! 👌👌
A resounding 10-wicket win to clinch the #AsiaCup2023 title 👏👏
Well done, #TeamIndia! 🇮🇳#INDvSL pic.twitter.com/M9HnJcVOGR
Asia jeeta Ab World ki taraf chalo. Well done Team India. No team came even close to full strength Indian team in this Asia cup🇮🇳 #AsiaCup
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) September 17, 2023