After fast bowler’s devastating spell bundled out defending champions for 50, India completed the formalities in just 6.1 overs
Colombo: A fiery spell of swing and pacer by Mohammed Siraj, with magnificent figures of 6 for 21, India ccompletely routed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to lift the Asia Cup title on Sunday, Sept 17, after a gap of five years, a PTI report in The Tribune, Chandigarh, says.
This was India’s eighth Asia Cup title and also their biggest victory (263 balls) in ODIs in terms of balls remaining.
The match will forever, will be remembered for the way Siraj reduced the Lankan top-order to mere puppets.
His fiery pace bundled out defending champions Sri Lanka for 50 runs. India’s Shubman Gill (27) and Ishan Kishan (23) finished the rest of the task in just 6.1 overs.
This was India’s first title in a multi-nation event after their triumph in the Asia Cup 2018, and in a way, it also exorcised the ghost of India’s 54 all out against Lanka in the Coca Cola Champions Trophy at Sharjah in 2000.
Perhaps, he was destined to have a day like this, said the Hyderabadi.
“Jitna naseeb mein hota hai wahi milta, aaj mera naseeb tha (You get what’s in your destiny, today it was my destiny),” Siraj summed up the mood while talking to broadcasters in the mid-innings break.
Despite heavily overcast conditions, Sri Lanka elected to bat first after winning the toss, But Siraj in devastating form sealed the opponent’s fate, as the Lankan folded up in just 15.2 overs. This was also their lowest ODI total against India.
The pacer became only the fourth bowler in ODI history to take four wickets in an over, and he matched former Lankan pacer Chaminda Vaas as the fastest to a five-wicket haul in one-dayers – in just 16 deliveries.
Siraj also obliterated the best ODI figures against Sri Lanka, previously held by Pakistan pace legend Waqar Younis – 6 for 26 at Sharjah in 1990.
However, the beauty of Siraj’s bowling was beyond mere numbers.
He got into action after Jasprit Bumrah jettisoned Kusal Perera in the third ball of the first over – a regulation caught behind.
In conditions that resembled more London than Colombo, Siraj just had to pitch the ball in the right areas.
In his fourth over, Siraj got the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samaraiwickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya De Silva.
Nissanka tried to place the ball around Ravindra Jadeja at point, but the placement went awry as the fielder completed a fine tumbling catch.
Samarawickrama could not deal with a delivery that came in that little bit after pitching on a length, and the umpire did not have to think even for a moment to uphold Siraj’s appeal for leg-before.
In the very next ball, the left-handed Asalanka pushed at a fuller delivery from Siraj with zero footwork, and the uppish shot ended in the hands of Ishan Kishan at covers.
De Silva managed to avert the hat-trick, but he lasted only for another ball, a push away from body resulted in an easy collection for Rahul behind the stumps.
But Siraj was not done yet. He castled Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka and Kusal Mendis with peaches to complete their destruction.
Shanaka could not even cover a beautiful outswinger, a delivery that he used to optimum effect on this day, that uprooted his off-stump.
At 33 for 6, someone needed to try and break the shackles and Mendis tried to do it. But this time, Siraj nipped one back in to beat the Lankan batsman’s booming drive, and rearranged his timber.
Siraj did not use his deadly wobble seam delivery even once in his unbroken seven-over spell, but destroyed Lanka with a combination of outswingers and the occasional in-dipper.
Once Siraj finished his spell, there was nothing left in the Lankan innings.
Hardik Pandya picked up the remaining crumbs of Lankan innings with a three-wicket haul (3/3).
Sri Lanka needed someone to bowl a Siraj-esque spell, but they did not have anyone, as India completed a comprehensive victory in just 116 minutes.