Mayhem at RPS

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka are mastering the art of hitting new lows as the epic Asia Cup final ended in an anti-climax in front of 35,000 adoring fans as Dasun Shanaka’s side suffered a heavy ten wicket loss to give India their eighth Asia Cup title.Due to persistent rain in Colombo, there were threats of the game heading to the reserve day but it needed India less than just two hours to wrap up the final in what was a total one-sided game.

While India showcased that they are certainly one of the contenders to win the Cricket World Cup, scheduled to start in three weeks, Sri Lanka are left to answer too many questions following yet another batting collapse under a captain who has failed pathetically to inspire his team.

Pacer Mohammed Siraj was on the money as he bowled a superb opening spell, but by no means it was unplayable and several batters got out for bad shots much to the disappointment of the local fans who had paid through the nose and turned up in numbers.

After Jasprit Bumrah had dismissed Kusal Perera in the first over of the innings, Siraj reduced Sri Lanka to 12 for five as he claimed four wickets in his second over becoming the first Indian to do so.

Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva all departed for loose shots in a maniac over and in his next soon Siraj had a five-wicket haul when Dasun Shanaka was dismissed for a duck and Sri Lanka slumped to 12 for six.

Siraj cleaned up top scorer Kusal Mendis (17) to finish with six for 21, the fourth best figures by an Indian in ODI cricket. It was also the second-best figures in an Asia Cup final, following Ajantha Mendis’ six for 13.

Hardika Pandya then finished off the tail claiming three wickets for three runs.

It was Sri Lanka’s second lowest total in ODIs and the lowest total at home with the previous lowest being 98 all out at the same venue against a South African attack inspired by Allan Donald and Brett Schultz. It was also the lowest total in a final in ODI cricket. India chased down the target in just 6.1 overs as Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill finished things off in style.