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Mohammed Siraj terrorised Sri Lankan batters in the ODI Asia Cup 2023 final to break a plethora of records. Siraj broke the back of the Sri Lankan batting lineup with six wickets for just 21 runs with the new ball. He equalled former Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas’ record of the fastest fifer in ODIs in the 21st century. Siraj needed just 16 balls to complete his five-wicket haul. Vaas had done the same against Sri Lanka in 2003.
The Hyderabad-born pacer became the second Indian bowler to take six wickets in a major tournament final. In the C.A.B Jubilee tournament in 1993, Anil Kumble took six wickets for 12 runs against West Indies at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Siraj started off with a menacing over where he did not pick up a hat-trick but took four wickets. He became the fourth bowler in ODI cricket history to take four wickets in a single over. Vaas had done it against Bangladesh in 2003. Pakistan's Mohammed Sami achieved the feat against New Zealand in 2003. England's Adil Rashid pulled it off against West Indies in 2019.
Siraj conceded just seven runs and took five wickets in the first 10 overs of Sri Lanka's innings. This is the best spell for a bowler in the first 10 overs in ODIs (only when the ball data is available). He broke the record of South Africa's Makhaya Ntini who took five wickets for just eight runs against Pakistan in 2006.
Siraj is only the second bowler to take a six-fer in Asia Cup final. Sri Lankan spinner Ajantha Mendis did it against India in 2008 as he took six wickets for just 13 runs to cause a collapse of epic proportions.
During his dream spell, the 29-year-old became the second-fastest Indian to complete 50 wickets in the format. Siraj did it in his 28th inning. The Indian record belongs to the current chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar from 23 innings.
Siraj’s six-fer helped India bundle out Sri Lanka for a paltry 50 from 15.2 overs. This is Sri Lanka’s second-lowest innings total in ODIs. Also, it is the lowest ODI total against India.
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