Mohammed Siraj’s iconic spell helps India get eighth Asia Cup title

Colombo, Sep 17 India routed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets to lift Asia Cup for the eighth time after chasing 51 runs target in mere 6.1 overs in the finals at R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.
Mohammed Siraj beyond any doubts was the chief architect for India to maul the hosts for their lowest ODI total of 50 runs. He put in an out-of-the-box performance with an extraordinary spell of bowling.
Four wickets in an over and figures of 6/21 in seven overs, Siraj left Sri Lanka in shambles. There was swing and seam on offer for The Golconda Express as he intelligently utilised the overcast conditions with clinical precision.
Nobody would have thought Siraj would have bettered his previous performances in this tournament with such a dream spell. The manner in which he demolished the opponents left Sri Lanka spectators high and dry.
Siraj removed Pathun Nissanka (2), Sadeera Samarawickrama (0), Charith Asalanka (0) and Dhananjaya de Silva (4) in the 4th over to put Sri Lanka on the mat with 12/5.
In the sixth over as well, Siraj cleaned up Captain Dasun Shanaka (0) with a beauty and did a la Ronaldo celebration thereof. He also knocked over Kusal Mendis with a fast inswinger for 17 off 34 balls with three boundaries.
Siraj became the fourth fastest Indian to claim 50 wickets in one-day internationals.
Hardik Pandya was equally devastating, ending with figures of 3/3 as Sri Lanka folded for a paltry 50 runs in 15.2 overs.
In reply, India chased down the paltry target in 6.1 overs without losing any wicket.
Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill remained not out at 23 (18) and 27 (19), respectively. Ishan struck 3 boundaries and Gill six.
Earlier, the match started at 3.40 pm, instead of 3 pm due to a passing rain after Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
India included Washington Sundar in the playing XI in place of injured Axar Patel, who was ruled out of the summit clash. Sri Lanka included Dushan Hemantha in place of Maheesh Theekshana, who was ruled out of the final.