Siraj’s six blows away Sri Lanka as India lift Asia Cup title

Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj’s 6/21, in which he equalled ex-Sri Lanka pacer Chaminda Vaas’s record of fastest to five wickets, helped India register the third fastest victory in One-day Internationals and lift the Asia Cup for the record eighth time in the final in Colombo on Sunday.

India chased the target of 51 set by Sri Lanka in 6.1 overs and win by 10 wickets.

Siraj got four wickets in one over – his second and team’s fourth – to leave tournament co-host Sri Lanka reeling at 12/5 after pacer Jasprit Bumrah had picked the first wicket.

The Hyderabad pacer became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets in an over in one-dayers.

Siraj returned to take another wicket in his third over to complete a fifer and leave Sri Lanka reeling at 12/6. He thus took five wickets in his first 16 balls, equaling Vaas’s feat.

The Sri Lankans could never recover from that and when Siraj picked his sixth scalp, of Kusal Mendis, whatever resistance was left in them gave in.

The Dasun Shanaka-led side folded for 50 in 15.2 overs, their second lowest total in One-day Internationals.

Apart from Siraj’s six, Hardik Pandya chipped in with 3/3 and Bumrah 1/23.

Openers Shubman Gill (27 not out) and Ishan Kishan (23 not out), promoted to the top, reached the target in 6.1 overs.

This was also India’s biggest win in ODIs with balls remaining as 263 balls were left for India to play.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 50 all out in 15.2 overs (Mohammed Siraj 6/21, Hardik Pandya 3/3) lost to India 51/0 in 6.1 overs (Ishan Kishan 23 not out, Shubman Gill 27 not out)