Rohit, bowlers break SL’s winning streak to put India in final. Wellalage’s all-round show of five wickets and an unbeaten 42 went in vain as SL failed to chase 214.
Brief Score: India 213 (Rohit 53, Rahul 39, Wellalage 5-40, Asalanka 4-18) beat Sri Lanka 172 (Wellalage 42*, de Silva 41, Kuldeep 4-43, Bumrah 2-30, Jadeja 2-33) by 41 runs
Player of the Match: Dunith Wellalage
The pitch was dry, and players like Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka shone. However, it was India’s opening combination, both in batting and bowling, that made the difference in this low-scoring match.
Led by captain Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill’s 80-run partnership, coupled with an impressive spell from bowlers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, India secured a convincing 41-run victory, ending Sri Lanka’s 13-match unbeaten streak. This win virtually assured India’s spot in the Asia Cup final with two Super Fours stage games to go.
Expecting a dry pitch, similar to the one used in India’s previous match against Pakistan, both teams loaded up with spinners, and Shardul Thakur made way for Axar Patel in India’s lineup. While Axar’s sensible batting helped India cross the 200-run mark, it was Rohit’s aggressive play during the Powerplay that set the stage for the total.
Rohit showcased his effortless style with crisp drives and a straight six, becoming the second-fastest to reach 10,000 ODI runs. However, Sri Lanka’s Dasun Shanaka brought in Wellalage in the 12th over, and the left-arm spinner made a significant impact by taking crucial wickets. He dismissed Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit, swinging the game in Sri Lanka’s favor.
Following Wellalage’s five-wicket haul, India struggled to build a substantial total and was bowled out for 213.
In response, Bumrah and Siraj demonstrated their prowess by taking three wickets in the Powerplay, with Bumrah grabbing two. Kuldeep Yadav then struck twice in quick succession. When Ravindra Jadeja induced an edge off Shanaka, caught by Rohit in the slips, the game was nearly sealed with Sri Lanka at 99 for 6.
Although Dhananjaya de Silva and Wellalage provided a glimmer of hope with a 63-run partnership, Shubman Gill’s sharp catch at mid-on ended de Silva’s resistance. Kuldeep proceeded to dismantle the tail, securing a comfortable victory for India.
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