COLOMBO – Kuldeep Yadav as soon as once more spearheaded India’s bowling assault with a four-fer and powered his aspect into the Asia Cup 2023 ultimate with a 41-run victory over Sri Lanka.
India’s 41-run victory marked the top of Sri Lanka’s 13-match profitable streak whereas additionally boasting Pakistan’s possibilities to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 ultimate. Pakistan and Sri Lanka, each with two factors every in as many matches will now interact in a digital semifinal on Thursday. If the all-important conflict will get washed out then Sri Lanka will be a part of India within the ultimate of the Asia Cup 2023 as a consequence of a superior web run fee.
In a low-scoring thriller on Tuesday, Sri Lanka had been set to chase a modest 214-run goal however the house aspect may handle 172 in reply regardless of a preventing knock by DunithWellalage. Sri Lanka had a deplorable begin to their run chase as they misplaced 3-25 within the eighth over, courtesy of a dominating opening spell by Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
Sadeera Samarawickrama then put collectively a short 43-run partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva (17) earlier than falling to Yadav. Sri Lanka then misplaced two extra wickets in fast succession and consequently slipped to 99/6 in 25.1 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva and DunithWellalage then put collectively an important 63-run halfnership to deliver Sri Lanka again into the sport. De Silva then threw away his wicket whereas charging on Ravindra Jadeja within the 38th over when Sri Lanka nonetheless wanted 52 runs.
Dhananjaya de Silva scored a smart 41 off 66 balls, laced with 5 boundaries. Following his dismissal, Sri Lanka misplaced wickets at an alarming fee and had been quickly bundled out on 172 within the 42nd over. Wellalage made unoverwhelmed 46-ball 42. Kuldeep Yadav clinched 4-43 whereas Bumrah and Jadeja claimed two wickets every.
Opting to bat first, India may put a paltry 213 on the board earlier than being bundled out within the ultimate over regardless of their skipper Rohit Sharma’s half-century. India bought off to a flying begin with an 80-run opening stand. Skipper Sharma dominated the first-wicket partnership with Shubman Gill, who was struggling to get going lastly perished within the 12th over after a scratchy 19- run knock which got here off 25 deliveries.
Wellalage then turned the sport on its head when he removed star batter Virat Kohli (3) and Rohit Sharma (53) in his successive overs as India slipped to 91/3. Following the droop, KL Rahul and in-form Ishan Kishan anchored the innings with a 63- run partnership earlier than Wellalage struck once more. He dismissed Rahul caught and bowled to attract. Rahul scored a cautious 61-ball 33.
Wellalagesoon removed Ishan Kishan (39) to depart India reeling at 170/5. All-rounder Axar Patel (26) and quantity 11 Mohammed Siraj (5*) then added a beneficial 27 runs amid their 10th wicket partnership earlier than the previous mistimed one off MaheeshTheekshana on the primary supply of the ultimate over. Wellalage clinched 5-40 and Charith Asalanka 4-18.