Sri Lanka book spot in Asia Cup final after defeating India

It was a solid start from Sri Lanka as they collected 89 runs in the first 10 overs without losing any wickets in the Super Four round of the Asia Cup against India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. 

However, they lost four batters from the 12th to 15th over but came back strongly and won the match by six wickets. It was India’s second match in this stage and they were defeated in both matches. Earlier, they lost against their eternal rivals Pakistan by five wickets.

Sri Lanka needed seven runs in the last over and Arshdeep Singh was bowling really well. He beat Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka in the fifth delivery when the Islander needed two runs from two balls.

Shanaka could not hit the ball but run for a single and Rishabh Pant has all three stumps to aim at but missed. Arshdeep then had all three stumps to aim at and he could not break the stumps as well. Meanwhile, the Lanka pair completed two runs and emerged victorious.

After winning the toss, the Lions invited the defending champion to bat first and they set 174 run-target after losing eight wickets. In reply, Sri Lanka reached there in 19.5 overs to win the match.

The Lankan openers - Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis were looking really sharp in the middle and both hit fifties. Nissanka walked off after scoring 52 off 37 while Mendis made 57 runs in the same number of deliveries. Yuzvendra Chahal removed both the openers.

Before losing Mendis’ wicket, the Islanders lost two more wickets. Charith Asalanka who was dismissed by Chahal went for a duck while Danushka Gunathilaka walked off after making just a single. Ravichandran Ashwin got rid of him.

After losing four batters, Sri Lanka were under huge pressure. However, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shanaka tried to turn things around for the Lankans and their unbeaten 64 off 34-ball partnership helped their side snatch the victory away from India.

Rajapaksa scored 25 off 17 while Shanaka made 33 with the help of four boundaries and a maximum after facing 18 deliveries and was named the Player of the Match.

Earlier, It was a shaky start from India as they lost two early wickets. However, their skipper Rohit Sharma led his team from the front as he scored 72 off 41 deliveries. He smashed five boundaries and four over-boundaries to hit his half-century.

A short and wide outside-off at off-pace delivery from Chamika Karunaratne did the trick. Rohit cut that ball hard which went straight to Nissanka and that was how a superb knock came to an end.

Suryakumar Yadav provided his captain with the perfect support as he played the anchor role. He was on 29 off 22 balls when Rohit walked back to the pavilion. Later, Yadav walked back after scoring 34 runs. Shanaka was the wicket-taker.

After asking to bat first, India did not get a perfect start as they lost two early wickets. KL Rahul walked off after making six while Virat Kohli went for a duck. Maheesh Theekshana trapped Rahul and Dilshan Madushanka removed Kohli.

In the end, Hardik Pandya's 17 off 13, Rishabh Pant's 17 from the same number of deliveries and Ashwin’s unbeaten 13 of just seven balls helped the defending champion to post a fighting total.

Madushanka picked up three while Karunaratne and Shanaka claimed two each. Theekshana bagged one wicket for the Lankans.