India's Mohammed Siraj (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's captain Dasun Shanaka during the Asia Cup 2023 final ODI cricket match in Colombo on Sunday. Siraj took six wickets for 21 runs. — AFP COLOMBO, Sept 17 (AFP): Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj returned figures of 6-21 to lead India's rout of Sri Lanka by 10 wickets as they clinched their eighth Asia Cup title on Sunday.
Siraj got four wickets in one over to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 50, a total the Indian openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill surpassed in 6.1 overs for an impressive victory ahead of next month's ODI World Cup at home.
"It was a great performance, especially to come and play like that in a final," skipper Rohit Sharma said. "Shows the mentality of the team."
He said, "Our seamers are actually working really hard for many years, so it's pleasing for the side to see them rewarded like that. A performance like that will be cherished for a very long time."
Sri Lanka's miserably low total in the 50-over contest left a nearly packed house disappointed after they witnessed just 116 minutes of play.
"It is below par. The way we got dismissed is very disappointing, think there's a lot of reflection to be done in the dressing," Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood said after the crushing loss.
"I think today we've come up against a very high class bowling attack, thought Siraj was superb."
The hosts elected to bat first following a delayed start due to rain and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah struck first with the wicket of Kusal Perera, caught behind for a duck in the first over.
Siraj soon took over as he made the ball swing and seam in overcast conditions to easily surpass his previous ODI best of 4-32.
He got Pathum Nissanka for two and then struck on successive balls to send back Sadeera Samarawickrama (0) and Charith Asalanka (0), but a hat-trick was averted.
Dhananjaya de Silva hit a boundary but Siraj had him caught behind with the next ball, much to the delight of the Indian fans.
" Siraj equals Vaas -
Siraj got his fifth with the wicket of Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka, equalling an ODI record for the fastest five-wicket haul from his first 16 balls of the match. Former Sri Lanka quick Chaminda Vaas achieved the feat in 2003.
Kusal Mendis hit three boundaries before becoming Siraj's sixth wicket, although Sri Lanka avoided the lowest-ever ODI total of 35 by Zimbabwe.
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