Picture Credit: CREIMAS
Defending champions India stormed into the men’s cricket final at the Asian Games with a dominant 124-run victory over Sri Lanka at Karogi Sports Park on Thursday.
India will face Pakistan in the final after Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in the other semi-final.
Batting first, India posted 169/7 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan led the innings with an unbeaten 80 off 46 balls, hitting five sixes and four boundaries. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 38, while Shreyas Iyer scored 13. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson contributed seven runs each.
Sri Lanka’s chase collapsed almost immediately. Jasprit Bumrah removed Sineth Jayawardena and wicketkeeper-batter Sohan de Livera without scoring in his opening over. Ravi Bishnoi then ran out Lasith Croospulle with a sharp throw, leaving Sri Lanka at 2-3 after only seven deliveries.
Axar Patel continued the pressure by taking two wickets in the fourth over, reducing Sri Lanka to 18/5. He then combined with Samson to run out Nuwanidu Fernando, before Washington Sundar dismissed Wanuja Sahan.
Captain Shreyas Iyer brought Abhishek Sharma into the attack, and the spinner struck twice in two deliveries. Chamika Karunaratne was run out before Sharma dismissed Binura Fernando.
Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for just 45 in 9.5 overs.
Nuwanidu Fernando was the only batter to offer significant resistance, scoring 15, while no other player reached double figures.
Brief Scores:
India 169/7 (Ishan Kishan 80 not out, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi 38) beat Sri Lanka 45 all out (Nuwanidu Fernando 15) by 124 runs.
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