Srilankan batters made it difficult for team India to qualify for finals in Asia cup 2022

DUBAI: Lack of firepower from Indian seamers cost two in two for India in super 4's hoping results of other teams to favour in their way. Winning the toss Shanaka elected to field first sticking to the winning combination. India brought experienced off spinner Ashwin in place of Ravi Bishnoi to deal with the left heavy Srilankan middle order. But the offie got only 10 balls to bowl to the left hander and picked the wicket of Gunathilaka.

Earlier, putting to bat first opener Rahul failed once again to give a good start being trapped LBW in second over by Theekshana, in 3rd over left hander Madushanka troubled one of world's best batter Kohli with his pace and swing and cleaned bowled in 4th ball. Skipper Rohit played captain's knock on other hand to escape from collapse with suryakumar both batters made 50 run partnership to take fighting total but Rohit fell for well deserved 72 finding sweeper fielder Nissanka. In the space of 10 balls Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed to a well directed short ball trying to clear the third man but failed. After the wicket of two well settled batters. Srilanka pulled back in slog overs to restrict the Men in blue to 10-15 runs short. Hard hitters failed to take on the Lankan bowlers, as they lost wickets regularly and the boundary column was dry in the last few overs.

In chase, Srilanka batting firepower continued as Srilanka openers assured the target was chaseable as both right handers batted cleverly bringing boundaries regularly and rotating the strike. Mendis made back to back fifty and Nissanka made his first fifty in this Asia cup. This made it difficult for Indian bowlers to provide breakthroughs. The first blood was drawn in the 12th over for 93 run partnership Nissanka reverse sweep finding the Indian skipper safe hands . Two balls later Struggling Asalanka was dismissed without disturbing the scorecard. In no time Indian spinners picked 4 wickets but this collapse did not affect the chase as Skipper Shanka, Rajapaksa stood steady to achieve the target. Finally Srilanka won the match by 6 wickets and entered as first team to finals in Asai cup 2022 and chance of Team Indian is in hands of other match results.

Srilanka skipper Shanaka was player of the match for his all round performance

Match Summary:

IND 173-8 (Rohit Sharma 72, Suryakumar Yadav 34, Dilshan Madushanka 3-24)

SL174-4 (Kusal Mendis 57, Pathum Nissanka 52, Yuzvendra Chahal 3-34).

Sri Lanka won by 6 wickets