India beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs and qualified for the final of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
Chasing the target of 213, the home side was met with early blows as they were 25-3 in just 7.1 overs with Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj doing the job for the Blues.
After losing wickets at intervals, the home side were at 99-6 in 25.1 overs when Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunit Wellalage built a much-needed 63-run partnership.
The match was in the grip of the home side but de Silva decided to play a rash shot and lost his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja for 41 runs, eventually ending his side’s hopes of winning the match.
After de Silva fell, Sri Lanka lost wickets rapidly and were soon all out for 172 runs.
Wellalage stood till the end and played a valiant knock of 42 off 46.
Batting first, the Indian openers, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, initially set a promising tone with an 80-run partnership before they were toppled by Sri Lanka’s young gun Wellalage.
After Virat Kohli departed for three, Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul took charge in an attempt to revive India’s innings, but Sri Lanka’s spinners continued to apply pressure, taking wickets at regular intervals. Kishan managed a gritty 33 runs from 61 balls, while Rahul posted 39 off 44 balls.
India were soon all out of 213 with Axar Patel (26) losing his wicket off Mahesh Theekshana.
Wellalage secured his first five-wicket haul in international cricket with an impressive figure of 5/40.
Lineups
India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj.
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana.
