Colombo - India claimed the Asia Cup 2023 championship in spectacular fashion, propelled by an exceptional display of fast bowling. Spearheading this remarkable effort was Mohammed Siraj, who tore through the Sri Lankan top order during the final showdown.
In the highly anticipated Asia Cup Final between Sri Lanka and India, the Sri Lankan team faced a daunting challenge as they were bowled out for a mere 50 runs in 15.2 overs. This marked Sri Lanka's lowest-ever total against India and stood as the second-lowest total in their cricketing history. Additionally, it ranked as the fifth-shortest completed innings in terms of the number of overs in which a team was dismissed.
India, in response, effortlessly achieved the target in just 37 balls, securing a resounding 10-wicket victory. This victory not only represented India's largest margin of victory in terms of balls remaining but also marked Sri Lanka's most significant defeat in the tournament's history.
With this triumph, India secured their eighth Asia Cup title, maintaining their status as the most successful team in the tournament's history.
Sri Lanka's captain, Dasun Shanaka, won the toss and elected to bat first. Unfortunately, little went Sri Lanka's way once the teams took the field.
India's bowlers capitalized on the favorable overcast conditions, causing the ball to swing effectively in both directions. Jasprit Bumrah made the initial breakthrough by dismissing Kusal Perera without him scoring a single run.
However, it was Mohammed Siraj, Bumrah's partner in the new-ball spell, who turned the game on its head. He orchestrated a breathtaking performance by claiming four wickets in the fourth over of the match. His extraordinary over began with the dismissal of Pathum Nissanka, caught at point on the very first ball. Siraj then proceeded to take the wickets of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka off the third and fourth deliveries, respectively. Samarawickrama fell leg-before-wicket, while Asalanka was caught in the covers.
In the final delivery of this sensational over, Siraj had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind. He followed up this magical over by taking another wicket, dismissing Shanaka in his very next over.
Incredibly, Siraj accomplished a five-wicket haul in just 16 balls, equalling the world record for the fastest five-for, a record he now shares with Sri Lanka's Chaminda Vaas, who achieved the same feat by taking five wickets against Bangladesh in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2003.
After Siraj's remarkable spell, Sri Lanka was struggling at 12/6. Just when Kusal Mendis and Dunith Wellalage attempted to stabilize the innings, the fiery fast bowler struck again, breaking their fledgling partnership and taking his sixth wicket.
Sri Lanka had no chance of recovery following Siraj's fiery spell, and Hardik Pandya completed the formalities by claiming the final three wickets, finishing with figures of 3/3. Impressively, all ten wickets in the Sri Lankan innings were taken by pacers.
Siraj concluded with figures of 6/21, the best performance by a fast bowler in the history of the Asia Cup, surpassing the previous record held by Aaqib Javed with 5/19 against India in Sharjah in 1995. This also stands as the most outstanding performance by an Indian bowler in the tournament, surpassing Arshad Ayub's 5/21 against Pakistan in Dhaka in 1988.