IND vs SL: Team India thump Sri Lanka by 41 runs, qualify for finals of Asia Cup 2023

The Indian cricket team defeated Sri Lanka in the low-scoring Asia Cup 2023 Super 4s encounter played at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo by 41 runs. Indian spinner Kuldeep Yadav once again rose to the occasion and picked up a four-wicket haul and helped the team win the match. Team India are the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 finals. 

3 things you need to know 

• Team India was bundled for a score of 214 runs against Sri Lanka while batting first 
• Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage picked up his first ODI five-wicket haul 
• The Indian team is the defending champion of the ODI Asia Cup

ALSO READ | Ashwin Praises Dunith Wellalage But Also Warns Sri Lanka

Indian bowlers seal Team India's Asia Cup 2023 finals spot 

After being wrapped up for a score of 213 runs in the first innings, the Indian bowlers helped the 'Men in Blue' make a tremendous comeback and seal a spot in the Asia Cup 2023 finals. Indian left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav ended the match with figures of 4/43, whereas, Jaspirt Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with two wickets each. Sri Lanka batters Dunith Wellalage (42*) and Dhananjaya de Silva (41) tried their best to take their team over the line but at last, the Indian bowlers proved to be too much for Asia Cup 2023 co-hosts. 

Wellalage-Asalanka rip through the Indian batting lineup

Before this, the Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat first in the fourth Super 4s fixture of the Asia Cup 2023. The Sri Lanka team was put under pressure by the Indian openers Rohit and Shubman Gill as the duo added 80 runs for the first wicket. However, the Indian team faced a terrible batting collapse after the fall of Gill and lost the rest nine wickets for the next 133 runs.

ALSO READ | KL Rahul Shows Why He Is India's Top Choice As Wicket-keeper For ODI World Cup

Sri Lanka script unique record

Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage and Charith Asalanka shared a total of nine wickets between each other and ran through the Indian batting order. Wellalage removed big names like Shubman Gill, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Wellalage also picked up his first five-wicket haul in ODI cricket, whereas, his partner Charith Asalanka ended the match with a four-wicket haul. Sri Lanka will now play against Pakistan on September 14, 2023 and the winner of the match will meet Team India in the finals of the Asia Cup 2023.