Asia Cup final highlights: Unplayable Mohammed Siraj drives India to record win over Sri Lanka
India crushed Sri Lanka in one of the most one-sided tournament finals ever played to win the Asia Cup, with Mohammed Siraj taking a record-equalling five-for – watch the highlights from the game here.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bat first, and that was about the last thing to go right for him or his side all day. Jasprit Bumrah struck with the third ball of the first over, Kusal Perera edging behind, before an astonishing new-ball spell from Siraj left Sri Lanka in tatters.
He started with a maiden to Kusal Mendis, and then struck four times in his following over, Pathum Nissanka slicing to Ravindra Jadeja at point, Sadeera Samarawickrama pinned lbw, Charith Asalanka chipping to cover, and Dhananjaya de Silva nicking behind.
In his next over, Siraj struck again, beating Dasun Shanaka four times in four balls, the last of which took out off-stump. He had the joint-fastest five-for in ODI history to his name with figures of 5-4, and Sri Lanka were on the mat at 12-6.
Mendis made 17, Sri Lanka’s top score, to take the score to 33 before being bowled by Siraj, whose six-for was the second in the history of the Asia Cup – the first, by Ajantha Mendis in 2008, also came in an India-Sri Lanka final.
Hardik Pandya then claimed 3-3 in 2.2 overs as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 50, their second lowest ODI total, the lowest by any side against India, with the 15.2 overs their innings took the shortest any Full Member side has been bowled out in.
India made short work of the small chase, racing home in 6.1 overs, completing their biggest ODI win, and the second biggest by any side. New Zealand completed a ten-wicket win over Bangladesh with one more ball to spare in 2008.
India have now won eight men’s Asia Cups, half of all that have been played.
