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Siraj’s spell for the ages gives India eighth Asia Cup title
Mohammed Siraj bowled a spell for the ages as his fiery bowling, which included four wickets in a single over, skittled Sri Lanka out for just 50 in the final of the 2023 Asia Cup in Colombo on Sunday (September 17). India then took only 6.1 overs to reach the target, with openers Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan putting on an unbroken 51-run partnership, as they clinched the Asia Cup for the eighth time.
Siraj’s career-best 6-21 was only the second six-wicket haul in the history of the Asia Cup and the best bowling performance against Sri Lanka, bettering Waqar Younis’s 6-26 in 1990. His terrific bowling set up India’s biggest victory in terms of deliveries remaining, as they sealed the deal with 263 balls to spare.
An implosion from the Sri Lankan top order saw the home team losing six wickets inside the first six overs, with Siraj ripping apart their batting order. He completed a fifer in just 16 deliveries as Sri Lanka were reduced to 12/6 – the joint-lowest score at the fall of the sixth wicket in all ODIs.
Dasun Shanaka’s decision to bat first played into the Indian pacers’ hands as they rattled Sri Lanka with swing and movement. It was Bumrah who bagged the first wicket, getting Kusal Perera to edge to the ‘keeper in the opening over. Two wicketless overs followed before Siraj tore through the cream of Sri Lanka’s batting in the fourth over. Pathum Nissanka punched one to backward point, Sadeera Samarawickrama was trapped lbw, Charith Asalanka chipped a catch to cover while Dhananjaya de Silva was caught-behind as Siraj became the first Indian to pick up four wickets in an over in ODIs.
After a maiden from Bumrah, Siraj struck again, getting Dasun Shanaka bowled for a duck to become the first Indian to bag a fifer inside the first 10 overs of an ODI. Kusal Mendis tried to hold the innings together but in his attempt to execute a drive against Siraj, he became his sixth scalp in the bowler’s sixth over. A well-directed short delivery from Hardik Pandya resulted in Dunith Wellalage getting dismissed for 8, as Sri Lanka slipped to 40/8.
Dushan Hemantha, who replaced the injured Maheesh Theekshana, scored useful runs to avoid the ignominy of the lowest ODI total, helping them to the half-century mark. But Pandya bagged the wickets of Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana to end the innings in the 16th over as Sri Lanka ended up with the unwanted record of registering the lowest total in the final of an ODI.
The Sri Lankan pacers also found some help from the pitch but they weren’t disciplined enough, allowing Gill and Kishan to help themselves to a flurry of boundaries. They were either too short or bowled too full, as the Indian batters unfurled a series of drives, cuts and pulls to take India closer to the target. Gill finished with six fours while Kishan struck three boundaries and also the winning run.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 50 in 15.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 17, Dushan Hemantha 13*; Mohammed Siraj 6-21, Hardik Pandya 3-3) lost to India 51/0 in 6.1 overs (Shubman Gill 27*, Ishan Kishan 23*) by 10 wickets.
(Cricbuzz)
Gaby Lewis has been rested for Ireland’s upcoming T20I tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies at home in Clontarf as she recovers from a recent leg injury but has been named captain – for the first time at a global event – for the T20 World Cup in June-July in England.
Orla Prendergast, the vice-captain for the World Cup, will lead the side in the tri-series in Lewis’ absence. No vice-captain has been named for the tri-series.
In terms of ins and outs, Jane Maguire, the right-arm medium pacer, has been ruled out of contention with an injury, but her sister Aimee Maguire, the left-arm orthodox spinner, has returned from her own injury and has been included in both squads. Apart from the missing Lewis, there are no changes from the squad for the tri-series, which is a 14-member line-up, for the World Cup.
At the T20 World Cup, Ireland have been grouped with tournament hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, Scotland, Sri Lanka and past winners West Indies.
Ireland are ranked ninth in the format, ahead of only Scotland (11th) among the teams in their group, and will start their World Cup campaign on the second day of competition, against Scotland in Manchester.
Ireland were most recently in action at the T20 World Cup qualifiers played in Nepal in January-February this year, and finished second to Bangladesh.
Lewis’ fitness will be key for Ireland at the World Cup, with her being their top-ranked batter, currently at joint-14th on the ICC T20I rankings. She was also the top run getter at the qualifiers with 276 runs in seven innings, scoring her runs at a strike rate of 119.48.
Prendergast is the next best at No. 26, followed by Amy Hunter at No. 29. Prendergast is also the seventh-ranked allrounder in women’s T20Is.
Ireland squad for women’s T20 World Cup
Gaby Lewis (capt), Orla Prendergast (vice-capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
Ireland squad for tri-series against Pakistan and West Indies
Orla Prendergast (capt), Ava Canning, Christina Coulter Reilly, Alana Dalzell, Laura Delany, Georgina Dempsey, Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Louise Little, Aimee Maguire, Lara McBride, Cara Murray, Leah Paul, Rebecca Stokell
[Cricinfo]
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has issued a statement approving the members nominated for the new Selection Committee of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).
The appointments have been made by the Sports Minister in accordance with the powers vested under Section 39 (1) of the Sports Law No. 25 of 1973 and the Extraordinary Gazette Notification No. 2437/24 dated May 21, 2025.
The members of the new selection committee are:
Kapila Wijegunawardena – Chairman
Amal Silva – Member
Brendon Kuruppu – Member
Waruna Waragoda – Member
Vanessa De Silva – Member
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