Asia Cup 2023: India defeats Sri Lanka by 41 runs
India got their second victory in the Super Four and qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 finals. Sri Lanka were defeated by 41 runs.
India continued their winning streak against Sri Lanka. The ‘Men in Blue’ defeated Sri Lanka by 41 runs. This was India’s second win in the Super Four. India has now qualified for the finals with this victory. For Sri Lanka, they will need to defeat Pakistan to qualify. Here is a recap of the second innings.
Indian fast bowlers control powerplay
Unlike Sri Lankan fast bowlers who did not take any wickets in the first innings, Indian fast bowlers were right on the mark. Jasprit Bumrah got the first wicket and enticed Pathum Nissanka to poke one to KL Rahul. Bumrah then showed his skill by bowling a slower ball variation to Kusal Mendis. The ball dipped on Mendis who was looking to dig it out but lobbed it straight to the fielder at cover. Mohammed Siraj then took the wicket of Dimuth Karunaratne thanks to a great catch from Shubman Gill at slip.
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Kuldeep Yadav breaks the partnership
After a partnership between Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka was starting to take the game away from India, Kuldeep Yadav broke it by picking the wicket of Samarawickrama. A lot was expected from the Indian spinners after the pitch assisted the Sri Lankan spinners in the first innings. Kuldeep took the wicket after KL Rahul from behind the stumps suggesting to bowl away from the stumps. Asalanka too was dismissed by Kuldeep. Ravindra Jadeja took the wicket of Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka thanks to a diving catch from Rohit Sharma.
Dhananjaya and Wellalage take the game away from India
At 99-6, Sri Lanka’s winning chances looked bleak. That’s when Dunith Wellalage, the hero of the first innings came in to bat. Wellalage and Dhananjaya de Silva built a great partnership at a healthy strike rate. They shared a 63-run stand of 75 balls. Their partnership almost brought Sri Lanka into the game. The dangerous-looking stand was broken by Ravindra Jadeja with Dhananjaya trying to go past the mid-on fielder but Shubman took a good overhead catch to end the partnership. Dhananjaya was dismissed after a crucial knock of 41 runs in 66 balls. Maheesh Theekshana held around for a while before giving away his wicket to Hardik Pandya. Kuldeep only needed three balls to take the final two wickets and get the win for India. Kuldeep’s last wicket meant that he had taken 150 wickets in ODIs.