Maheesh Theekshana has been dominated out of the ultimate attributable to an harm
By:
Chandrashekar Bhat
ROHIT Sharma’s India face underdogs Sri Lanka in Sunday’s (17) Asia Cup ultimate, an important momentum-builder heading into subsequent month’s ODI World Cup.
The cricketing giants have 13 Asian titles between them and Sri Lanka have a historical past of sneaking into the match’s ultimate – to the consternation of followers eager for any showdown between arch-rivals India and Pakistan.
Bangladesh ended India’s unbeaten run within the 50-over match after edging them out by six runs in Friday’s (15) final Tremendous 4 match.
Shubman Gill hit 121 however his knock went in useless after India faltered of their chase of 266 in Colombo, the place Sunday’s ultimate may also be held.
“I don’t suppose it has damaged our momentum,” Gill informed reporters after the slim defeat.
“We now have performed good cricket. Generally it occurs on these wickets. I used to be set and may have completed off the sport.”
Gill stated clinching India’s eighth Asia Cup title would give them “confidence” forward of the World Cup beginning again house on October 5.
India started with a washed-out match in Pallekele towards Pakistan, whose quick bowlers rattled their prime order and bowled them out for 266 in the one innings attainable attributable to rain.
Huge weapons Virat Kohli and returning batsman KL Rahul hit again with centuries of their subsequent outing towards Babar Azam’s group to rack up 356-2 and crush Pakistan by 228 runs.
India then prevented a gutsy Sri Lankan chase to guide their place within the ultimate, however Gill stated their opponents have been nonetheless a menace.
“We should pull up our socks and be at our one hundred pc to beat them,” he stated.
‘With out our key gamers’
Sri Lanka, who received the earlier version of the Asia Cup performed within the T20 format, got here in as underdogs and snuck into the Tremendous Fours with a dramatic win over Afghanistan.
They quickly received into their groove on house soil and, regardless of taking place to India, edged out Pakistan in a knockout match for his or her eleventh Asia Cup ultimate.
“We got here with out our key gamers, however nonetheless we managed to make the finals,” skipper Dasun Shanaka stated.
Accidents sidelined Dushmantha Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga, however others stood up at essential junctures.
Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka each hit match-winning knocks to take the group over the road in a rain-shortened match and push a much-favoured Pakistan out of the match.
Up-and-coming quick bowler Matheesha Pathirana and left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage have impressed and lead the match’s bowling chart with 11 and 10 wickets respectively.
Wellalage rattled India’s batting with 5 wickets together with the prized scalps of Kohli and Rohit of their Tremendous 4 match.
However spinner Maheesh Theekshana has been dominated out of the ultimate attributable to an harm, Shanaka confirmed Saturday (16).
Twice earlier than within the Asia Cup, Sri Lanka have misplaced to India within the Tremendous 4 stage solely to beat them within the finals, in 2004 and 2008.
(AFP)
