IND vs SL: India put end to Sri Lanka's 13 match winning streak to qualify for Asia Cup 2023 final

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IND vs SL: India defended a 214-run target by 41 runs to put an end to Sri Lanka's 13-match winning streak in ODI cricket and qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 final.

Chasing 214 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka were bundled out for 172 in 41.3 overs. Dunith Wellalage, who picked five wickets for 40 runs, remained unbeaten on 42 off 46. Sri Lanka lost the match but the gutsy show from the 20-year-old left the jury with no choice but to give him Man of the Match award.

With the win, India now have four points with a solid Net Run Rate (NRR) of +2.690. The winner of the match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on Thursday will qualify as the second finalists. Bangladesh have lost their first two matches in the Super Fours and are out of the Asia Cup 2023.

Sri Lanka lost early wickets and were reduced to 25/ 3 in 7.1 overs and then 99/6 in 25.1 overs. However, a 63-run partnership off 75 balls for the seventh wicket gave Sri Lanka hope. Sri Lanka were in need of 52 runs off 76 balls with four wickets in hand when Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva (41 off 66) to break the threatening partnership.

Hardik Pandya dismissed Maheesh Theekshana with the help of a stunning catch from substitute fielder Suryakumar Yadav on the fifth ball of the 41st over before Kuldeep Yadav picked two wickets from the three balls of the next overs to finish with figures of 4/4 in 9.3 overs and complete a morale boosting win for India.

Earlier, Left-arm spinner Wellalage (5/40) took his maiden five-wicket haul as Sri Lanka bowled India out for a paltry 213 in the fourth Super fours match of the Asia Cup 2023.

The spin duo of Wellalage and Charith Asalanka (4/18) wreaked havoc in the middle overs to bundle out India in 49.1 overs after captain Rohit Sharma won the toss and opted to bat. Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with 53 off 48. Ishan Kishan (33), KL Rahul (39) and Axar Patel (26) also chipped in with crucial contributions.

There was a short interruption in the match when it drizzled for a while with just three overs remaining in India's innings. But the rain stopped soon and the match restarted without deduction of any overs.

India face Bangladesh in their last Super Fours match, a dead rubber, on Friday.