India enter Asian Games final after Kishan and Bumrah ride roughshod over Sri Lanka
The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake
The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake
Scorer: Thilak Ram | Commentator: Madushka Balasuriya
And on that note, it's a wrap from us. The third-place playoff and the finals will be on Saturday, so be sure to join us for that, but till then, on behalf of Ekanth and the rest of the team, this is Madushka signing out!
RajeshBanda : "11 extras being the second highest score in SL innings. Also beinng the only 2nd double digit score in the innings. "
Artemis: "India could have declared after their powerplay and still won by 13 runs. What a knockout! " --- A truly brutal display of superiority. But in Sri Lanka's defence, this is a batting lineup with considerable inexperience on the international stage, let alone against a bowling attack that includes the likes of Bumrah. That said, they should have definitely put up a better showing than this.
Aditya A: "Will Abhishek start on a hat-trick in the next game?" --- Yep.
For India, it's a perfect showing ahead of a gold medal clash against Pakistan, but for Sri Lanka they will really need to regroup before their bronze medal showdown against Bangladesh.
4.03pm Well, that finished in a hurry. Sri Lanka totally outclassed in Nisshin, as India showed just why they're defending world champions. The innings averaged a wicket an over, and really Sri Lanka were out of the chase by as early as the fourth over. India had done exceedingly well with the bat too, to pile on an above par 169 for 7, led by blistering 80 off 46 from Ishan Kishan as well a trademark top-order romp from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for a 21-ball 38. And on a pitch that was taking plenty of turn, Sri Lanka's batting failed to turn up in any way, shape or form. India's bowling was spearheaded by the always excellent Jasprit Bumrah, who grabbed two wickets, while there was also two apiece for Axar Patel and Abhishek Sharma. And if India's bowlers weren't doing the damage, Sri Lanka were more than happy to self-inflict some pain, as they had no less than three run outs across the innings.
B Fernando b Abhishek Sharma 0 (1m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0
C Karunaratne st †Samson b Abhishek Sharma 4 (27m 8b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50
Drinks on the field, though Sri Lanka might be looking for something a touch stronger than electrolytes.
KTH Ratnayake run out 5 (12m 15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
Abhishek into the attack with his left-arm spin.
The result sets up the first India vs Pakistan final this year, with the Asian Games gold medal at stake
Both teams have picked spin-heavy bowling attacks with Jasprit Bumrah India's only specialist fast bowler
The forecast is for a sunny, warm day in Nisshin; in case of another washout, India will enter the gold-medal round for being the higher-ranked team
All four semi-finalists are yet to contest a ball in the tournament so far