In a breathtaking encounter at the R Premadasa Stadium, India scripted a stunning comeback to clinch victory against Sri Lanka, securing their place in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Despite Dunith Wellalage’s remarkable performance and Sri Lanka’s strong start, India’s spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja turned the tide in favor of the Men in Blue.
Wellalage’s Maiden 5-Wicket Haul
Youngster Dunith Wellalage showcased his talent on the international stage by achieving a remarkable milestone – his maiden 5-wicket haul. With sheer determination and precision, he single-handedly dismantled India’s formidable batting lineup, claiming the scalps of star batters such as Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya. Charith Asalanka, another standout performer for Sri Lanka, proved to be a thorn in India’s side. His impeccable bowling figures of 4/18 kept the Indian batsmen on their toes throughout the innings.
India’s Early Dominance
Opting to bat first, India got off to a flying start thanks to their dynamic opening pair of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill. The duo unleashed an array of attacking strokes, putting immense pressure on the Sri Lankan bowlers from the very beginning. They expertly rotated the strike, keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Rohit Sharma’s Milestone
Rohit Sharma, India’s skipper, demonstrated his batting prowess by reaching the milestone of 10,000 ODI runs in style. He hammered a maximum off Kasun Rajitha’s delivery, marking this significant achievement. Rohit continued his fiery form, punishing Dasun Shanaka with four boundaries in an over.
Rain Interruption and India’s Last Stand
Rain briefly interrupted the play with India at 197/9 in 47 overs. However, after the resumption, Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel gathered 27 crucial runs for the last wicket, taking India’s total to 213.
Sri Lanka’s Chase Begins
In pursuit of India’s 213-run target, Sri Lanka started their innings with Pathum Nissanka playing a beautiful cover drive off Jasprit Bumrah for a boundary in the very first over. Jasprit Bumrah, determined to make an impact, needed only seven balls to claim his first wicket. Pathum Nissanka edged one to wicketkeeper KL Rahul, providing India with the breakthrough they needed. Sri Lanka was 7/1 after 2.1 overs. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj kept the Sri Lankan batsmen on the back foot with their disciplined bowling. While wickets were scarce, they maintained control and restricted the run rate. Sri Lanka required 193 runs from that point, a challenging task against India’s potent pace attack.
India’s Dominance in Powerplay
Charith Asalanka briefly resisted with two boundaries, but India’s pacers, led by Bumrah and Siraj, kept the pressure on. The powerplay belonged to India as they continued to apply pressure, leaving Sri Lanka struggling at 39/3 after 10 overs. Ravindra Jadeja made an immediate impact upon his return to the attack. His deliveries spun away from the Sri Lankan skipper, Dasun Shanaka, and Rohit Sharma executed a spectacular diving catch at first slip. Sri Lanka found themselves in deep trouble at 99/6 after 25.1 overs. Hardik Pandya removed Maheesh Theekshana, keeping India’s hopes alive. A brilliant catch by Suryakumar Yadav at mid-on brought India closer to victory, with Sri Lanka at 171/8 after 40.5 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Brilliance
Kuldeep Yadav’s return to the attack proved to be decisive. He bamboozled Rajitha with a googly, knocking over the stumps. Yadav reached the milestone of 150 ODI wickets, sealing India’s victory by 41 runs.
India’s Final Berth Secured
With this thrilling win, India not only secured a spot in the Asia Cup 2023 final but also showcased their ability to handle pressure situations. The Indian spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja, turned the game in their favor, nullifying Wellalage’s heroics.
