India hammered Sri Lanka in the final of the Asia Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to claim their record-eighth title in the history of the tournament as Mohammed Siraj dazzled with the ball. Siraj turned out to be the difference in the game as the Hyderabad-born pacer ripped the Sri Lankan batting order to shreds. The-29-year-old was awarded the Player of the Match for his match-winning spell of 6 for 21.
Electing to bat first after winning the toss in the crucial final, the Dasun Shanaka-led side wanted to put runs on the board and apply pressure on India's batting unit. But the island nation was immediately put on the back foot as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed opener Kusal Perera for a duck.
Siraj then took centre stage and dismantled the entire Lankan batting order. He claimed the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Shanaka and Kusal Mendis. His phenomenal spell saw him finish with the fourth-best bowling spell (6/21) for India in ODI history.
Sri Lanka's batting order fell like a house of cards as barring Kusal Mendis and Dushan Hemantha none of the other batters could even reach double digits. Kusal Mendis showed some resistance and scored 17 off 34 balls, including three fours while Hemantha who came into the playing XI in the place of Maheesh Theekshana remained unbeaten on 13. The defending champions got bundled out for just 50 and became the team to score the tenth-lowest total in ODI cricket history.
Chasing 51 to win the tournament, the Indian team management decided to send Ishan Kishan to open the innings for India alongside Shubman Gill. The opening pair of Ishan and Gill helped India scale the total without losing a single wicket. India knocked the target down in just 6.1 overs. Kuldeep Yadav was adjudged the Player of the Tournament.
