COLOMBO: Kuldeep Yadav once again spearheaded India’s bowling attack with a four-fer and powered his side into the Asia Cup 2023 final with a 41-run victory over Sri Lanka. India’s 41-run victory marked the end of Sri Lanka’s 13-match winning streak while also boasting Pakistan’s chances to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 final. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, both with two points each in as many matches will now engage in a virtual semi-final on Thursday.

Notably, if the all-important clash gets washed out then Sri Lanka will join India in the final of the Asia Cup 2023 due to a superior net run rate.

In a low-scoring thriller on Tuesday, Sri Lanka were set to chase a modest 214-run target but the home side could manage 172 in reply despite a fighting knock by Dunith Wellalage. Sri Lanka had a deplorable start to their run chase as they lost three wickets for just 25 runs in the eighth over, courtesy of a dominating opening spell by Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. Sadeera Samarawickrama then put together a brief 43-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva before falling to India’s star with the ball Kuldeep Yadav. He played a cautious 17-run knock including a boundary. Sri Lanka then lost two more wickets in quick succession and consequently slipped to 99/6 in 25.1 overs.

Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage then put together a crucial 63-run partnership to bring Sri Lanka back into the game. The home side were in a solid position before Dhananjaya de Silva threw away his wicket while charging on Ravindra Jadeja in the 38th over when Sri Lanka still needed 52 runs. Dhananjaya de Silva scored a sensible 41 off 66 deliveries, laced with five boundaries. Following his dismissal, Sri Lanka lost wickets at an alarming rate and were soon bundled out on 172 in the 42nd over. Dunith Wellalage remained stranded at the crease with an unbeaten 46-ball 42. Kuldeep Yadav led the bowling attack for India with 4/43, followed by Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah, taking two wickets each while Mohammed Siraj and Hardik Pandya had a wicket apiece to their names. Opting to bat first, India could put a paltry 213 on the board before being bundled out in the final over despite their skipper Rohit Sharma’s half-century.

India fuelled with momentum courtesy of their monumental 228-run victory over Pakistan in the previous Asia Cup 2023 fixture on Monday, got off to a flying start with an 80-run opening stand.

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 13 2023

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