India vs. Sri Lanka Final:
In a thrilling encounter between India vs Sri Lanka 2023 Asia Cup Final, the live score revealed a dominant performance by the Indian team. Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan showcased their batting prowess, securing victory in just 6.1 overs, following Mohammad Siraj’s exceptional six-wicket haul that dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup, restricting them to a mere 50 runs.
Turning Point: Siraj’s Spectacular Bowling Display
The match took an early turn in favor of India when Mohammed Siraj wreaked havoc on Sri Lanka’s batting order within the first six overs. Jasprit Bumrah initiated the onslaught with a wicket off the third ball, setting the stage for Siraj’s remarkable performance. Siraj’s fourth over was particularly devastating, as he claimed four wickets, leaving the Sri Lankan team in disarray.
He completed his five-wicket haul by dismissing Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, in his second over. At that point, Sri Lanka was reeling at 12/6 in 5.4 overs. Siraj continued his exceptional bowling display, finishing with figures of 6/21, setting a new record as the best bowling performance by any bowler in an ODI against Sri Lanka.
Hardik Pandya’s Impact
Hardik Pandya also played a vital role in dismantling the Sri Lankan innings, securing three wickets, including two back-to-back wickets in the first two balls of the 16th over. Sri Lanka was eventually bowled out for a mere 50 runs, marking their second-lowest score ever in ODIs.
India’s Swift Response
India’s response was swift and clinical. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill opened the innings and quickly amassed 32 runs in just three overs. They continued their impressive partnership, ultimately chasing down the target in the seventh over. India emerged victorious with all 10 wickets intact and a whopping 263 balls to spare.
Rain Delay and Toss Drama
In a game initially delayed by 40 minutes due to rain, Sri Lanka had won the toss and chose to bat first. Despite facing the absence of several frontline bowlers, a combination of young bowlers and experienced part-timers made scoring against Sri Lanka a daunting task. However, the exceptional performance by the Indian bowlers, led by Siraj, changed the course of the match.
Injury Setbacks for Both Teams
Both teams had to deal with injury setbacks leading up to the final. India lost Axar Patel for this match and possibly for the upcoming series against Australia, with Washington Sundar called in as cover. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, suffered the loss of their frontline spinner, Mahesh Theekshana, for the remainder of the tournament, although they remained optimistic about his availability for the World Cup next month. Meanwhile, Washington Sundar was named in the Indian second-string squad for the Asian Games next month, making his inclusion in the World Cup squad less likely.
