In a thrilling showdown at the mega Asia Cup 2023 final between India and Sri Lanka in Colombo, Mohammed Siraj emerged as the undisputed star of the match, wreaking havoc with the new ball and claiming a remarkable four-wicket haul in a single over. His performance left the Sri Lankan batters reeling and put the hosts on the back foot early in the game.
Siraj’s exceptional display of fast bowling unfolded in his second over of the match, where he showcased his mastery of the craft by consistently troubling the opposition batters with a mesmerizing combination of inswingers and outswingers.
This devastating spell of bowling left Sri Lanka in disarray, with their scorecard reading a mere 12 runs for the loss of half their wickets in just four overs.
The premier pacer began this remarkable over with a maiden, setting the tone for what was to come. With unwavering confidence, Siraj continued his onslaught from the other end as he was entrusted with the crucial fourth over of the innings.
The first ball of this game-changing over saw Siraj outfox Pathum Nissanka. The ball darted back in sharply, forcing Nissanka into an uncomfortable position, and the result was a simple catch for the ever-reliable Ravindra Jadeja.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka’s hope in this high-stakes encounter, managed just a dot ball on the second delivery as Siraj’s relentless pressure mounted.
Siraj struck again on the third ball, unleashing an inswinger that thudded into Samarawickrama’s pads. In a desperate attempt, the batter opted for a review, but it proved futile, only adding to Sri Lanka’s woes.
Charith Asalanka, the hero from Sri Lanka’s clash against Pakistan, became Siraj’s third victim on the fourth ball of the over. The premier paceman pitched it just full enough to entice the southpaw, and the result was a straightforward catch for Ishan Kishan.
Facing the hat-trick ball, Dhananjaya de Silva exhibited nerves of steel and denied Siraj a historic hat-trick, smashing the ball to the mid-on boundary. The pacer’s valiant effort to stop it from crossing the rope was in vain.
WATCH: 4 WKTS in a ROW by M. SIRAJ
Nonetheless, Siraj bounced back in spectacular fashion on the sixth ball, conjuring a brilliant outswinger that induced an edge from Silva. The ball flew behind the stumps, where the ever-alert wicketkeeper KL Rahul completed the dismissal.