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‘Abh toh pakka champion’- Fans react as India beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs in Asia Cup 2023

India beat Sri Lanka by 33 runs in the Super 4 match at R Premedasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Sep 12, 2023 11:25 pm

India beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs in the Super 4 match at R Premedasa Stadium, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan spinners gave the Indian batters a hard time in the spinning track of Colombo. The Men in Blue played 3 consecutive days of cricket as their first match between arch-rivals Pakistan was transferred into the reserve day due to rain.

Dunith Wellalage, who rattled the India top-order batters, picked up his first five-wicket haul. Rohit Sharma won the toss and elected to bat first, he became the second-quickest batter to score 10,000 runs in ODI cricket. The India skipper has displayed excellent form in the Asia Cup 2023, emerging as a key figure for India from the top.

Dunith Wellalage’s fight goes in vain

Batting first, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill were off to a flying start. The 36-year-old batting maestro crossed the 10,000-run mark. As the match commenced, Rohit Sharma was merely 22 runs away from the milestone. He made it in style by hitting a six of Kasun Rajitha’s ball. Gill on the other hand played a supportive role. They stitched a partnership of 80 runs for the first wicket.

However, Dunith Wellalage made it difficult for the Indian batters as he picked up Gill with a sensational delivery. India collapsed from 80-1 to 91-3. He picked up the big wickets of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul along with Gill. Letting break the Indian inning. But KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan stitched a decent partnership of 54 runs. In the end, Axar Patel and Mohammed Siraj had 27 runs partnership, with that partnership India was able to score 213-10.

In reply, Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj gave them the best start they needed. Sri Lanka lost their top three for just 25 runs. Making it a difficult chase for the defending champions. Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja picked up quick wickets leading them 99-6. But a 63-run partnership from Dhananjay De Silva and Dunith Wellalage could not save them. Silva was out of Jadeja’s ball after scoring 41 runs off 66 balls. The 29-year-old supported Silva and was unbeaten till the end but could not take his team through as he got no support from the tailenders.

Here’s how fans reacted