Sri Lanka middle-order batter Charith Asalanka turned heads with the ball in the Super Fours clash against India in Colombo today (September 12), taking four wickets for just 18 runs.

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After left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage ran through the Indian top order and claimed his first ODI five-for, it was part-time spinner Asalanka’s turn to rattle the Indian lower order with spin.

Bowling for just the seventh time in his ODI career, Asalanka came into the attack in the 31st over as Sri Lanka looked for more options to make use of the spin-friendly conditions on offer at the R Premadasa Stadium. Before today, he had taken a solitary wicket from 78 international matches. India would have fancied their chances against his part-time spin, but Asalanka had other ideas.

After bowling two quiet overs for four runs, he registered his name in the wickets column, getting the big wicket of Ishan Kishan in the 35th over of the innings. Asalanka got the ball to rip off the surface. Four overs later, it was Ravindra Jadeja’s turn to go as gloved a turning delivery behind to the wicketkeeper.

Asalanka’s first six overs had accounted for two wickets for just 14 runs, but he wasn’t done. He sneaked one through Jasprit Bumrah’s bat and pad in a dismissal that would make the best off-spinners in the world proud. Off the very next ball, Kuldeep Yadav edged a back of length delivery to first slip as India slipped to 186-9.

Mohammed Siraj, India’s No.11, was treated to Test match fields with a slip, leg slip, and a short leg. He managed to survive the double spin threat from Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana as play was suspended due to rain after the 47-over mark with India’s score reading 197-9. After the resumption in play, Asalanka was given the opportunity to claim his fifth wicket.

Asalanka, with a grand total of one wicket from 78 previous international games, had astonishing figures of 9-1-18-4.

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