India cruised to the final of the Asia Cup after beating Sri Lanka by 41 runs in their second Super Fours game, in Colombo on Tuesday night.
India had beaten Pakistan on Monday by a record 228 runs and with these two wins they sit atop the table with four points.
Their opponents in the final will be decided in the last Super Fours game between Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Batting first, India got off to a flying start for the second match running but young Sri Lankan left-arm spinner, Dunith Wellalage (5/40) removed both the openers and No. 3 Virat Kohli to put the brakes on Indian batting.
KL Rahul and Ishan Kishan resurrected the innings with a 63-run partnership. However, Wellalage removed Rahul to derail India.
India could reach only 213, a poor show when compared to the 356 they had scored a day ago against Pakistan.
It was also the first time that India lost all 10 wickets to spin.
In response, Sri Lanka started badly losing three quick wickets. They were 25/3 at the start of the eighth over. At 99/6, it looked like India were in for a resounding win.
However, Dhananjaya de Silva (41) and Wellalage (42 not out) added 63 runs for the seventh wicket to frustrate India.
De Silva’s impatient shot off Ravindra Jadeja that was intercepted by Shubman Gill at mid-on spoilt Sri Lanka’s chances and India, thereafter, mopped up the tail with ease.
Brief Scores: India 213 all out in 49.1 overs (Rohit Sharma 53, KL Rahul 39, Dunith Wellalage 5/40) beat Sri Lanka 172 all out in 41.3 overs (Dunith Wellalage 42 not out, Dhananjaya de Silva 41, Kuldeep Yadav 4/43, Ravindra Jadeja 2/33, Jasprit Bumrah 2/30)
