India lifted the Asia Cup after routing defending champions Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the final with Mohammed Siraj claiming a career-best 6-21, including four wickets in one over, at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Electing to bat, Sri Lanka were bundled out for a paltry 50 in 15.2 overs with five batters getting ducks in their sorry-looking scorecard with Siraj the wrecker-in-chief.
Siraj’s fiery display of pace bowling was best illustrated in his second over when the right-arm quick dismissed Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva.
Hardik Pandya bagged three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah claimed one as Sri Lanka registered their second lowest total in one-day internationals, lasting only 92 balls.
India needed 6.1 overs to achieve the target for a timely boost before their home World Cup beginning next month.
“It’s like a dream,” Siraj, who became only the fourth bowler to take four wickets in an over in ODIs, said after the Sri Lanka innings.
“I got four early wickets last time I played Sri Lanka (earlier this year) but unfortunately I could not register a five-wicket haul.”
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