Wellalage’s Heroic In Vain As India Seals Asia Cup 2023 Final Berth

Colombo: Rohit Sharma’s blistering knock, crucial partnership between KL Rahul-Ishan Kishan and match-defining spell by Kuldeep Yadav sealed Asia Cup 2023 Final berth for Team India on September 12, Tuesday in Colombo.

In a thriller encounter against defending champion Sri Lanka, Rohit Sharma-led side defeated the co-host of the tournament by 41-runs at R Premadasa stadium in Colombo.

While batting first, Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill stitched 80-run partnership for the first wicket but 20-year-old left-arm orthodox Dunith Wellalage ran riot by dismissing India’s top-order.

Wellalage hunted down prized wickets of Rohit Sharma (53), Shubman Gill (19), Virat Kohli (3), KL Rahul (39) and Hardik Pandya (5).

India becomes first team to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 Final ♥️🇮🇳

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With the help of crucial partnership between KL Rahul (39) and Ishan Kishan (33) India posted modest total of 213/10 in 49.1 overs.

In response, Sri Lanka had a troubled start as they were soon reduced to 68/4 in 17.3 overs. But Charith Asalanka (22), Dhananjaya de Silva (41) and Duntih Wellalage (42) tried their best to bridge the gap but Kuldeep Yadav’s lethal spell turned the game on it’s head.

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While Kuldeep bagged four wickets, Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets each. With that win, India became the first team to qualify for the Asia Cup 2023 Final.

For his incredible all-round performance, Dunith Wellalage was adjudged Player of The Match.

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