Sri Lanka’s second string T20I side proved to be no better than their seniors when they were shot out rather dismally for 45 in their Asian Games men’s cricket semi-final clash against India at Nisshin yesterday.
India invited to bat first hit up 169-7 and won the contest by a whopping margin of 124 runs to set up a clash with arch rivals Pakistan in the final for the Gold on Saturday at the same venue.
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the other semi-final yesterday. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will play for the Bronze medal on Saturday at 5.30 am (SLT).
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set the base for India and Ishan Kishan’s knock landed the knockout blow for a new-look Sri Lankan side. India did suffer early setbacks when opener Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson both fell for 7, leaving the side struggling at 24-2.
Making his comeback in the T20I side after missing the entire preceding series against Afghanistan, teenage prodigy Sooryavanshi injected momentum into the innings, smashing 38 off 21 balls with six boundaries and two sixes before falling to Sahan Arachchige. Captain Shreyas Iyer contributed a run-a-ball 13, and there was useful support at the other end for Kishan as he turned the tables on Sri Lanka with a fiery knock.
Kishan provided a masterclass on a challenging, spin-friendly surface as he anchored in the middle overs before unleashing a barrage of boundaries towards the backend of the innings to power India to a daunting total for the conditions. Kishan hit five sixes and four fours in his knock of 80* off 46 balls.
In response, Sri Lanka’s chase collapsed almost immediately against a disciplined Indian bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Bumrah delivered two early strikes in his opening over even before Sri Lanka could get off the mark. Patel wreaked havoc through the middle order by dismissing captain Arachchige and Ashen Bandara in the space of four balls.
India’s sharp ground fielding also led to multiple run-outs, including opener Lasith Croospulle (0) and No. 4 Nuwanidu Fernando (15) as Sri Lanka slipped to 31-6 inside the Powerplay. That soon became 33-7 with Washington Sundar getting on the board in the seventh over. Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi continued the squeeze, keeping a tight leash as Sri Lanka struggled to break free under immense scoreboard pressure.
Unable to establish any partnerships on the turning pitch, Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for just 45 runs in 9.5 overs, with Abhishek Sharma bagging the two remaining wickets off successive deliveries. Sri Lanka folded for 45 in 9.5 overs, to crash out of the gold medal race.