Asia Cup 2023 News

Sri Lankan cricket stooped to a new low in the Asia Cup final at R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday after India chased down their paltry target of 51 in with 10 wickets to spare. Mohammed Siraj played the role of chief destructor with a six-wicket haul to fold out the opposition in just 15.2 overs.

The new ball is known to be a potent weapon in ODIs but few have yielded it the way Mohammed Siraj did on Sunday to bring upon Sri Lanka a historic collapse. The hosts were whittled down to 13/6 in the final within the first six overs courtesy of a relentless five-wicket haul from the Indian pacer.

Sri Lanka came up crunch in a virtual semi-final against Pakistan at R Premadasa Stadium on Thursday to chase down 252 in the allotted 42 overs. Kusal Mendis' 91 set the stage before Charith Asalanka kept his calm to take the Lions to their 11th Asia Cup final with a two-wicket victory.

Monikered the gentleman's game, cricket has a tendency to be bound down by unnecessary formalities, as was comically highlighted by Mohammad Rizwan on Thursday. When the umpire refused to go upstairs after an attempted stumping, the wicket-keeper channelled his inner entertainer to get his own way.