Team India on Tuesday (September 12) qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 final with a comprehensive 41-run victory over Sri Lanka in the Super-4 clash at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Opting to bat first, India were bowled out for a modest 213 in 49.1 overs on a turning track. Skipper Rohit Sharma top scored for the team with 48-ball 53 while KL Rahul (39) and Ishan Kishan (33) chipped in with handy contributions.
Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage starred with the ball for Sri Lanka, claiming five wickets by conceding 40 runs in his 10 overs.
In reply, the hosts’ innings folded for a paltry 172 in 41.3 overs. The Lankan batters found it tough to tackle the Indian fast bowlers as well as spinners.
While the pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah (2-30) and Mohammed Siraj (1-17) removed the top three, the spin twin of Kuldeep Yadav (4-43) and Ravindra Jadeja (2-33) ran through the middle and lower-order.
Wellalage also top scored for the island nation with 42* off 46 balls but his unbeaten knock went in vain as India ended the 13-match winning streak of Sri Lanka in ODIs.
For defending a modest total, the Indian team received rich praise from the cricket fraternity on social media platform X.
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