ODI Asia Cup Finals - Will Wellalage Wound the Blue Batting Order Once Again?
Ronit Sahijawani
Outside the Cricket World Cup (CWC), the ODI and T20 Asia Cup are the most-watched international cricket tournaments. The 2023 Asia Cup has everything to offer, whether it's partnerships with double centuries, 5-wicket hauls, or even the El Clásico of Cricket. This year's tournament is scheduled from August 30 to September 17 and is hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the finalists from the Asia Cup 2022.
The tournament commenced with a bang; Pakistan's captain scored a stunning 151 (131) against Nepal on August 30. Shadab Khan, the prodigious leg spinner, cleaned up Nepal's tail-enders, finishing with figures of 4/27 off nearly 7 overs.
The third ODI of the tournament offered an exciting clash between the two Asian giants. Unfortunately, the rain gods did not permit the game to occur, as it was officially called off towards the 50th over of the first innings. Fortunately, both teams received another chance to dominate on September 10th. Due to the formidable weather conditions, Pakistan chose to bowl. Both Indian openers did a fantastic job, finishing with their individual half-centuries. KL Rahul and Virat Kohli cooperatively rotated the strike, counting runs consistently. Rahul was dominant against the bowlers, focusing on the line length to determine whether he should commit to a pull shot or guide it down towards the leg side. Kohli was patient, learning from Gill, who mistimed his off-drive and was punished by a straightforward catch near silly mid-off. During the 24th over, the rain returned, forcing all players to seek cover. Once the game resumed, both batsmen went on to complete their centuries, finishing with a memorable 233 partnership. Kohli was awarded the Man of the Match, ending with an unbeaten score of 122, complemented by 12 boundaries and a strike rate of 130. Pakistan was left to chase this extraordinary target. However, as expected, Bumrah was consistently impressive with the new ball. His unpredictable overs gave him an advantage, which ultimately led to the openers edging the ball towards first slip. K. Yadav made his comeback to international cricket after picking up his first-ever five-wicket haul, securing India's resounding triumph over Pakistan.
At the moment, all super four virtual semi-finals have been played, and Sri Lanka is second on the table, setting up a face-to-face encounter against 'The Lions'. Shubman Gill, the current leader of Team India's batting order, has demonstrated his ODI dominance with a fantastic 121 against Bangladesh. However, Gill was unable to maintain his exceptional form against the Sri Lankan bowling attack, as Wellalage swiftly knocked his off stump, dismissing him for just 19 runs during their most recent matchup (Super 4 game) on Tuesday. Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage then went on to claim a remarkable 5-wicket haul as he dismantled India's top order. He now has 10 wickets in this tournament and is expected to finish with the best bowling figures of the ODI Asia Cup 2023.
As the thrilling showdown for the Asia Cup draws near, all eyes turn to the final clash between the reigning champions, Sri Lanka, and the formidable Team India. With history on the line, the stakes couldn't be higher. Will Sri Lanka's title defense prevail, solidifying their status as the undisputed champions? Or will India's hunger for glory propel them to a remarkable 8th Asia Cup victory?