Chasing the boundary on his hat-trick delivery during the India Vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup showdown, Mohammed Siraj had Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in fits of uncontrollable laughter.
In the Asia Cup 2023 final, Mohammed Siraj proved to be a wrecking ball against the Sri Lankan batting order, snatching a sensational six-wicket haul while conceding a mere 21 runs. The defending champions Sri Lanka were left in tatters, managing a meager total of just 50 runs.
During his fiery spell, Siraj had a golden opportunity to join the elite hat-trick club, following in the footsteps of the legendary Kapil Dev, but his near-miss led to a comical chase to the boundary ropes. This unexpected solo pursuit had fielders Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill, stationed at first slips, bursting into uncontrollable laughter.
Siraj is in some mood today🤣🤣🔥🔥#INDvsSL pic.twitter.com/XM6FnERAO9
— Awadhesh Mishra (@annnnshull) September 17, 2023
Despite pre-match concerns about rain interrupting the final, the match unfolded in such a dramatic fashion that not even the weather could steal the spotlight, as the Sri Lankan team struggled to muster a mere 50 runs.
Siraj’s exceptional performance saw him claim six wickets, with four of them falling in just one over during the Sri Lankan innings, setting a remarkable record for Indian bowlers as all four wickets tumbled within a mere 16 balls.
Sri Lanka faced an early setback when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Kusal Perera for a duck, setting the tone for their woes. Mohammed Siraj then took center stage, claiming four wickets in the fourth over of Sri Lanka’s innings, removing Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhankaya de Silva. Dasun Shanaka followed, with Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s top scorer with 17 runs, being the final wicket.
Hardik Pandya made a valuable contribution by taking three wickets, removing Dunith Wellalage, who previously claimed a five-wicket haul and scored 42 runs, along with Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana. This stellar performance restricted the co-hosts to a meager 50 runs. Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill then orchestrated India’s swiftest ODI chase, reaching the target of 51 runs in just 6.1 overs.
Last Updated on September 17, 2023
Senior Sports Copywriter