India demolished Sri Lanka in the men’s cricket semi-final at the Asian Games to set up a gold medal clash with Pakistan. After Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-curtailed semi-final, India made an absolute mockery of Sri Lanka, beating them by 124 runs at the Korogi Sports Club in Nisshin.
Ishan Kishan laid the platform with an 80-run knock on a difficult pitch to bat on, after which the Indian bowlers wreaked havoc on the Sri Lankan batting lineup. India eventually bowled Sri Lanka out for 45 in 9.5 overs, making it a ridiculously one-sided semi-final.
India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games cricket semifinal Highlights
Last month, the Indian women’s team, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, successfully defended their gold medal. Shreyas Iyer now has a chance to help the men’s team achieve the same feat.
SOORYAVANSHI LEADS EARLY RECOVERY
India’s innings got off to a shaky start as Sri Lanka’s spinners immediately found significant turn and grip from the surface. Abhishek Sharma launched Sahan Arachchige for a six, but fell soon after for 7 off 3 balls, edging a delivery that turned away to short third.
Sanju Samson was next to go, bowled by Tharindu Ratnayake for 7 off 9 balls. Ratnayake repeatedly troubled Samson with sharp turn before firing one in quicker to crash into the stumps.
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, however, gave India the momentum they needed. The youngster attacked from the outset, using the crease well and finding boundaries against both spin and pace. He raced to 38 off 21 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes, and looked in complete control despite the challenging pitch.
His counter-attacking knock ended in the sixth over. Sooryavanshi charged at Arachchige, reached for a delivery outside off and was beaten by the grip and turn, with a thick edge looping to short third. His dismissal left India 58 for 2, but he had already helped India recover from the early setbacks.
KISHAN FIGHTS THROUGH SPIN
India’s batters continued to struggle as the innings progressed. Shreyas Iyer made 13 before Arachchige produced a delivery that dipped, gripped and turned past his outside edge to hit off stump.
Ishan Kishan then took responsibility for rebuilding the innings, but wickets continued to fall around him. Axar Patel made 8, while Tilak Varma managed only 2 before being stumped by Nuwanidu Fernando after being deceived by the flight. The decision to promote Washington Sundar up the order also failed to produce the desired result, with the all-rounder scoring only 8 off 13 balls before falling late in the innings. Shivam Dube struggled for timing and was dismissed for 3 off 9 balls.
Through it all, Kishan kept India moving. He attacked when Sri Lanka missed their lengths and reached his fifty from 33 balls with a huge six down the ground off Nuwanidu Fernando. He continued batting until the final ball, finishing unbeaten on 70 off 42 balls, with four fours and four sixes.
Kishan’s innings was crucial as India kept losing wickets at regular intervals. The surface, marked by cracks and considerable grip, made stroke-making difficult throughout, with the Sri Lankan spinners extracting sharp turn and forcing India’s batters to constantly adjust.
Among Sri Lanka’s standout bowlers were Arachchige, who finished with two wickets, and Ratnayake, who also claimed two. Lasith Croospulle picked up one wicket and kept the pressure on India.
India eventually finished with 169 for seven, leaving Sri Lanka with a challenging target on a surface where their own batters had struggled to score freely. The hosts needed a strong start to have any chance of staying in the contest.
Instead, India ripped the game apart almost immediately.
BUMRAH, ROCK ROCK SRI LANKA
Jasprit Bumrah delivered the first major blow with a brilliant opening over. He dismissed Sineth Jayawardena lbw for a duck before removing Sohan de Livera for another zero. Sri Lanka were reduced to 1 for 2 after the first over, with Bumrah exploiting the movement and pace off the surface to leave the top order struggling for answers.
Axar Patel then produced an equally damaging over. The left-arm spinner removed Lasith Croospulle through a run-out before claiming Sahan Arachchige and Ashen Bandara in his spell as Sri Lanka’s innings unravelled. The pressure from both ends meant the Sri Lankan batters were unable to establish any partnership.
The fielding only made matters worse for Sri Lanka. Croospulle was dismissed without facing a ball after being caught short of his crease, while Nuwanidu Fernando briefly threatened to change the momentum with two sixes. His attempt to attack Washington Sundar, however, ended when he was run out for 15.
Another run-out followed later in the innings, with Tharindu Ratnayake sent back for 5 after Tilak Varma produced a sharp throw from backward point. Sri Lanka had three batters dismissed through run-outs, underlining the panic that had set in as India tightened their grip.
By the end of the powerplay, Sri Lanka were 33 for 6. They required 137 runs from 84 balls, but there was little indication that a recovery was possible.
Washington Sundar added another wicket when Wanuja Sahan fell for 1, caught by Abhishek Sharma while attempting a reverse sweep. Sri Lanka were soon seven down and their lower order had little left to offer.
Abhishek Sharma was brought into the attack to complete the formalities and needed only two deliveries in his final over to finish the match. He removed Chamika Karunaratne after beating him with flight and turn, with Sanju Samson completing the stumping.
Then came the final wicket. Abhishek sent one through Binura Fernando, who was stuck on the crease, completing the team hat-trick and sending India into the final.
– Ends
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