‘Final ko majak bana kar rakh diya’ – Fans react as Mohammed Siraj’s deadly six-wicket haul rattles Sri Lanka in Asia Cup 2023 final

‘Bowlers win you tournaments’ –  Mohammed Siraj proved in the Asia Cup 2023 final. India’s pace sensation completely rattled Sri Lanka who have been bowled out for just 50 runs at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, September 17. A flurry of records was broken in the first innings, in which Siraj took his maiden six-wicket haul to restrict the home team to a paltry score in just 15.2 overs.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and chose to bat first, but Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj controlled the game right from the start. Bumrah drew first blood by dismissing Kushal Perera on the third ball of the innings. Siraj then stepped in and delivered a maiden over to threaten the opposition as to what would happen next. The former World No. 1 ODI bowler was right on the money as the Lankan batters had no clue how to tackle him.

Siraj claimed the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva to pick up four wickets in a single over – the first Indian to do so. The right-arm pacer had a chance to register a hat-trick as well, but DdS overcame the ‘record ball’ with a boundary, only to end up on the next ball. Sri Lanka were reeling at 12 for 5 in four overs, but Siraj did not care about it and came back in his next over to complete the fifer with the wicket of captain Shanaka.

He continued the onslaught, taking the wicket of Kusal Mendis to finish with the figures of  6/21 – the fourth-best figures by an Indian bowler in ODI history. Hardik Pandya also joined the party as he claimed three wickets to wrap up the Lankan innings for their lowest-ever score in ODIs against India.

Speaking after the first innings, Siraj said: “Feels like a dream. Last time I did the same against Sri Lanka at Trivandrum. Got four wickets early, couldn’t get the five-for. Realised you get what’s in your destiny. Did not try too much today. I have always looked for swing in white-ball cricket. Did not find much in the previous games. But today it was swinging, and I got more wickets with the outswinger. Wanted to make the batters drive.”

Here’s how fans reacted to Mohammed Siraj’s stunning display against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2023: 

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