India qualifies for Asia Cup 2023 last, ends Sri Lanka’s 13-match profitable streak

The pitch was dry. Dunith Wellalage, the allrounder, couldn’t put a foot incorrect. Charith Asalanka, a part-time offie, got here to the social gathering. So did India’s extra completed tweakers. But in a low-scoring
affair, it was India’s opening mixture with the bat and the ball that turned out to be the distinction between the edges.

Riding on captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill’s 80-run stand and a fiery spell from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj up entrance, India broke Sri Lanka’s 13-match unbeaten streak with a convincing 41-run win. The win meant it had one foot in Sunday’s Asia Cup last, with two video games remaining within the Super Fours stage.

HIGHLIGHTS

With a dry floor in offing, adjoining to the one used for India’s conflict versus Pakistan that turned out to be a two-day affair, each the groups had packed their line-ups with spinners. Shardul Thakur was thus changed with Axar Patel in India’s staff. Axar did assist India cross the 200-run mark with wise batting in the direction of the tip however had it not been for Rohit’s cost within the Powerplay, India may have struggled to get anyplace close to the entire it obtained.

Rohit’s lazy class was on show repeatedly, be it in a crisp drive off Kasun Rajitha within the opening over or his straight six over the pacer’s head that helped the veteran turn out to be the second-fastest to 10,000 ODI runs.

SCORECARD

He went after his Sri Lanka counterpart Dasun Shanaka, welcoming him into the assault with 4 fours after which swivelled Matheesha Pathirana’s brief ball over the ropes. But within the twelfth over, Shanaka took himself off and introduced on Wellalage.

The left-arm spinner struck as soon as in every of his first three overs to deliver Sri Lanka into the sport. He removed Shubman Gill (undone in flight), Virat Kohli (the ball caught into the pitch, caught at midwicket) and Rohit (skidded and stored low) and obtained Sri Lanka again within the recreation.

From then on, India struggled to build up runs. With Wellalage including two extra to turn out to be the youngest Sri Lankan to select up a five-wicket haul in ODIs and Asalanka working by means of the decrease order, India was bowled out for 213.

Bumrah and Siraj then confirmed their class by hanging thrice within the Powerplay. Both had been just about unplayable, with Bumrah choosing two. Kuldeep then struck twice in fast succession, together with the fluent Sadeera Samarawickrama.

When Ravindra Jadeja enticed an edge off Shanaka to Rohit within the slips, at 99 for six, the sport was all however over. But Dhananjaya de Silva discovered an in a position ally in Wellalage to offer the biggest turnout a glimmer of hope.

But the 63-run partnership was damaged, because of Shubman Gill’s sharp catch at mid-on to see de Silva’s again. Kuldeep then ran by means of the tail at hand India a cushty win.