Mohammed Siraj runs to stop boundary on hat-trick ball, Virat-Gill left in splits. (Credits: X)
Mohammed Siraj chasing the boundary on the hat-trick ball left Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in splits as the video of the incident went viral on social media
Mohammed Siraj left the Sri Lankan batting order shattered with a fiery six-wicket haul conceding just 21 runs as the defending champions folded for just 50 runs in the Asia Cup 2023 final. Siraj had the chance to become only the third bowler and the second Indian after Kapil Dev to complete a hat-trick but missed the chance, and instead was forced to chase the ball all the way towards the boundary ropes.
The pacer himself running all the way to the boundary left Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill in splits as the duo were fielding at first slips and couldn’t control their laughter watching Siraj do it all by himself.
There was a lot of talk pre-match of rain potentially playing spoilsport in the final however the match unfolded in such a way that the weather had no chance as the Sri Lankan team could only score 50 runs.
India vs Sri Lanka Asia Cup 2023 Final Live Cricket Score
Siraj picked up six wickets, including four in the fourth over of the Sri Lankan innings, and the first four wickets came in 16 balls which was a record for the Indian bowlers.
Amidst all the rampant attack from the Indian bowlers, there was a light-hearted moment, that left Indian fans in splits.
In the fourth over, Siraj began the over with a wicket of Pathum Nissanka. Jadeja completed the catch to give the pacer his first wicket, on the next ball he picked up Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket.
Sri Lanka were left stunned with an early wicket from Jasprit Bumrah as Kusal Perera was dismissed on a duck before Siraj joined the party.
The Hyderabad-born cricketer picked up four innings in the 4th over of Sri Lanka’s inning, getting the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhankaya de Silva. Dasun Shanaka was the fifth wicket of Siraj before the wicket of Kusal Mendis, who was Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer at 17.
Hardik Pandya also chipped in with 3 wickets, getting rid of Dunith Wellalage, who had picked up a fifer in the last meeting between these two sides along with a 42-run knock, while Pandya also dismissed Pramod Madushan and Matheesha Pathirana to restrict the co-hosts for a mere 50 runs.
Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill came out to chase the 51-run total and completed the chase in just 6.1 overs, helping India register their fastest chase in ODI cricket.