Siraj’s 6-Wicket Help India Win Asia Cup 2023
India wins its 8th Asia Cup as Mohammed Siraj takes 6 wickets.
The final of the Asia Cup 2023 was played on 17th September 2023 at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat. Jasprit Bumrah took the first wicket in the very first over. Then the 4th over was bowled by Mohammed Siraj. In 6 balls he took 4 wickets. With this Sri Lanka were 12/5. Again in the 6th over Siraj took one more wicket and Sri Lanka were 12/6. In the 12th over Siraj took 1 more wicket, Sri Lanka was reduced to 33/7. Siraj had taken 6 wickets for only 21 runs. With amazing bowling by Hardik Pandya and Kuldeep Yadav, Sri Lanka were all out by 50. India were dismissed for 54 by Sri Lanka in Sharjah in 2000 in the final of the Champions Trophy. This was like revenge. In the paltry chase, Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan comfortably reached the target in 6.1 overs. Indian won the final with 263 balls to spare and all 10 wickets intact.
As India won with 263 balls remaining, this is the biggest ODI win by balance balls. Mohammed Siraj, became the fourth Indian to take six wickets in an ODI. He also took four wickets in 1 over, thus becoming the record-holder for most wickets in an over in ODIs.
He not only won hearts across the globe for his amazing performance but also for his heartfelt gesture. Siraj was named the Man of the Match. He dedicated his award to the Sri Lankan ground staff at the stadium and handed his $5,000 player-of-the-match prize money to those who toiled diligently during the rain-soaked Asia Cup. Even, Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Chief Jay Shah announced a financial prize of $50,000 for Kandy and Colombo stadium groundsmen in recognition of their efforts in preparing the field of play.
This was India’s 8th Asia Cup trophy. Sri Lanka has won 6 and Pakistan 2
