Sri Lanka defeated India in its fourth second Super 4 match in the Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai by 6 wickets. With this, India is almost out of the tournament, as it lost to Pakistan in its previous match. India’s journey in the series depends on Afghanistan’s performance against Pakistan on Wednesday.
Responding to the Indian challenge of 173 runs, Sri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis dominated from the beginning and crossed 50 runs in just five overs.
Pathum Nissanka scored an important 52 runs in 37 balls and while Kusal Mendis scored 57 runs in 37 balls. Like in the previous match against Pakistan, Indian bowlers hardly managed to impress and failed to take early wickets. Though spinner Yuzvendra Chahal took 3 wickets, while Ravichandran Ashwin dismissed Danushka Gunathilaka.
Earlier, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma smacked 72 off 41 balls as India made 173-8 against Sri Lanka in a crucial Super Four clash at the Asia Cup on Tuesday. Dilshan Madushanka claimed three wickets including Virat Kohli for a duck as late strikes by the Sri Lankan bowlers restricted India’s total in the final overs.
Rohit put on 97 runs with Suryakumar Yadav (34) after India, who lost their Super Four opener against Pakistan, lost two early wickets in a match they need to win to stay in the hunt for a final spot.
Sri Lanka, who can all but seal a place in Sunday’s final with victory, won a crucial toss and put India in to bat. Kohli fell for a fourth ball duck after Madushanka, a left-arm quick who returned figures of 3-24, bowled the star batsman with a length delivery.
Kohli, who struck form after an extended batting slump with two successive half-centuries in the tournament, walked back to stunned silence from a sparse crowd dominated by Indian fans.—AP
