Siraj’s brutal spell blows away Sri Lanka in Asia Cup Final

By Team ISN September 17, 2023

Leading India’s fast bowling effort, Mohammed Siraj put on a dazzling display in the Asia Cup 2023 final against Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s captain, Dasun Shanaka, won the toss and chose to bat first, but luck wasn’t on their side. India’s bowlers capitalized on the overcast conditions, causing the ball to move both ways. Jasprit Bumrah struck first, dismissing Kusal Perera for a duck.

However, it was Siraj, Bumrah’s new-ball partner, who completely changed the game. He took four wickets in the fourth over of the match. His incredible over began with Pathum Nissanka caught at point on the first ball, followed by the wickets of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Charith Asalanka on the third and fourth balls, respectively.

Samarawickrama was trapped lbw, while Asalanka was caught in the covers. In the final delivery, he had Dhananjaya de Silva caught behind. Siraj continued his remarkable performance by dismissing Shanaka in his very next over.

This extraordinary spell earned him a five-wicket haul in just 16 balls, equaling the world record for the quickest five-for since ball-by-ball data became available, shared with Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas, who achieved the same feat against Bangladesh in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2003.

Sri Lanka found themselves at 12/6 after Siraj’s incredible effort, and despite Kusal Mendis and Dunith Wellalage’s attempt to stabilize, the fiery fast bowler struck again, breaking their partnership and taking his sixth wicket.

Sri Lanka had no chance of recovery after Siraj’s spell, and Hardik Pandya finished the job by taking the final three wickets, ending with figures of 3/3.

Siraj concluded with impressive figures of 6/21, setting a new record for the best performance by a fast bowler in the Asia Cup, surpassing Aaqib Javed’s 5/19 against India in 1995 at Sharjah. This also marked the best performance by an Indian bowler in the tournament, beating Arshad Ayub’s 5/21 against Pakistan in Dhaka in 1988.

Sri Lanka was bowled out for just 50 runs, marking their second-lowest total in ODI history.