Colombo, Sep 17 (UNI) Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj has bagged five wickets to leave defending champions Sri Lanka in shambles with just 16 runs on board inside six overs in Asia Cup finals at R Premadasa Stadium here on Sunday.
Siraj removed Pathun Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva in the 4th over to put Sri Lanka on the mat with 12/5.
In 6th over as well, Siraj was on fire cleaning up Captain Dasun Shanaka with a beauty and doing the Ronaldo celebration thereof.
Jasprit Bumrah removed Kusal Perera on the third ball of the innings to provide India an early breakthrough, providing enough cannon for Siraj to fire ate Sri Lanka’s top-order.
At this point of time, India looks well poised to lift the coveted Asia Cup for the 8th time in Sri Lanka’s backyard.
Earlier, the finals started at 3.40 pm, instead of 3 pm due to a passing rain after Sri Lanka won the toss, and elected to bat against India.
India has 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.
The tournament this year was badly affected by continuous thunderstorms and drizzling in Sri Lanka which curtailed a few games.
