NEW DELHI: Following a low-scoring
Super Four
stage match win at the R Premadasa Stadium, India clinched a spot in the
Asia Cup final
by defeating defending champions Sri Lanka by 41 runs.
India’s innings appeared underwhelming as they were bowled out for 213 in 49.1 overs, an unusual outcome for the team as all ten wickets fell to spinners for the first time in their history.
Dunith Wellalage
(5-40) rattled India’s top order, while
Charith Asalanka
(4-18) took care of the tail, limiting India to a below-par total.
However, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup failed to meet the challenge, managing only 172 all out in 41.3 overs, with Dunith Wellalage (42 not out) and
Dhananjaya de Silva
(41) showing some resistance.
India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, commented on their victory, stating, “It was a good game. For us to play a game like that under pressure, it challenged a lot of aspects of our game. We definitely want to play on pitches like that to see what we can achieve.”
This defeat ended Sri Lanka’s 13-match winning streak in one-day internationals and now sets up a virtual semi-final clash against Pakistan on Thursday.
Here is how the cricket fraternity reacted as India secured a berth in the Asia Cup final:
(With Reuters inputs)
