Mohammed Siraj led from the front with a devastating spell as India bowled Sri Lanka out for a paltry 50 after the latter opted to bat in the final of the 2023 Asia Cup in Colombo.
While pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah drew first blood for the Men in Blue in the summit clash at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, removing Kusal Perera in the third delivery of the innings, it was Siraj’s second over that truly turned the game on its head.
LIVE: India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup 2023 Final in Colombo
Siraj would strike four times in a space of six deliveries in a stunning second over, getting rid of opener Pathum Nissanka (2), Sadeera Samarawickrama (0), Charith Asalanka (0) and Dhananajaya de Silva (4). The Hyderabadi pacer, who has surged ahead of Mohammed Shami as Bumrah’s new-ball partner in the white-ball formats, was even on a hat-trick after getting rid of Samarawickrama and Asalanka in successive deliveries.
Siraj would complete his five-for in his following over by castling Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka, reducing the Lankans to 13/6 with the six-time Asian champions in danger of getting bowled out for the lowest ODI total ever.
Read | Siraj blows away SL batters in Asia Cup final with record-making spell
He later got wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis caught-behind for 17 just when the latter was starting to collect some valuable runs to become only the fourth Indian bowler to grab a six-for in ODIs.
In the end, the Sri Lankans managed to go past the 50-mark, thanks primarily to Mendis’ 17. Seam-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya later joined the party by polishing off the tail.
He got Dunith Wellalage, Sri Lanka’s standout performer in their Super Four meeting against India, caught-behind for 8 in his third delivery of the day. He would then bring Sri Lanka’s innings to a close by removing Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana in successive deliveries in the 16th over of the innings.
It goes without saying that the Indian bowlers, especially Siraj, achieved a few milestones with their scintillating performance on Sunday. We take a look at some of those numbers in our statistical roundup:
— Sri Lanka’s score of 50 is their lowest total ever against India in ODIs. It is also their second-lowest total of all time after their 43 against South Africa in 2012.
— Mohammed Siraj’s figures of 6/21 are the fourth-best by an Indian in ODIs. Stuart Binny (6/4), Anil Kumble (6/12) and Jasprit Bumrah (6/19) are ahead of him in that list.
— Siraj’s figures are also the best against Sri Lanka in ODIs, surpassing Pakistan pace great Waqar Younis’ 6/26.
— This is also only the second time in Asia Cup (ODI) history that all 10 wickets have gone to pacers. The last time this happened was earlier in this edition, during Pakistan’s Group A clash against India in Pallekele.
from Firstpost Sports Latest News https://ift.tt/k0lSw9e
No comments:
Post a Comment