India have completely taken the Asia Cup 2023 Final on fire, with pace bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah taking the game to the batters of Sri Lanka. Leading the bowlers is Siraj, who has completely left the Sri Lankan batters stunned.
In five overs, the Lankans were reduced to 12/5, courtesy of the ferocity of the Indian bowlers. Of these five wickets, Siraj bagged four and conceded just one four as well. But before the pacer conceded his first runs of the match, he had already bagged three wickets and was on a hat-trick because a hilarious moment ended the wicket-falling streak of the Lankans.
It was the fourth over which left the Lankans reelings. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah got the breakthrough in the first over itself, sending Kusal Perera (0) back to the pavilion. Siraj then bowled a maiden over before coming back in the fourth over to take the team by surprise.
Pathum Nissanka (2), Sadeera Samarawickrama (0) and Charith Asalanka (0), all fell within a span of four balls, with Sadeera and Asalanka falling simultaneously and putting Siraj within a hat-trick in 11 balls, without conceding a single run!
However, Dhananjaya de Silva entered the field and with a hat-trick on the line, calmly pushed up through to mid-on, where there were no fielders.
In a comical moment, the India pacer ran after the ball in a bid to stop the boundary, leaving all his teammates in splits. Replays also showed him giggling as he chased the ball to prevent the boundary.
This boundary did nothing to dampen Siraj's mood. He got a de Silva in the very next delivery, and in two overs, he had figures of 4/4!
Bumrah closed out the first five overs with a maiden as Sri Lanka were reduced to 12/5 in five overs. Meanwhile, in the very next over, Siraj completed his five-for, in just 15 balls! He got skipper Dasun Shanaka bowled for a duck, with Sri Lanka now reeling at 12/6.
As of writing, the Lankans are slowly clawing their way back into the game with the onus on Dunith Wellalage and Kusal Mendis on the crease.
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