India celebrated the 10-wicket thrashing of Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup final as “a booster shot” Monday for the one-day World Cup starting on home soil in a fortnight.
Pace bowler Mohammed Siraj got four wickets in one over to help skittle Sri Lanka out for 50 on Sunday, a total the Indian openers Ishan Kishan and Shubman Gill surpassed in 6.1 overs.
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It was India’s eighth Asia Cup crown but its first major tournament title since winning the same competition in 2018.
“Siraj’s dream spell ended India’s five-year title drought,” The Times of India wrote.
The India Express called it a “Booster shot before World Cup” and praised what it called the team’s “clinical and ruthless” performance.
“Triumph lifts India’s morale… just in time for the mega-event,” it added, referring to the World Cup, which starts on October 5.
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In the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, where the final took place, the mood was gloomy.
“Abject surrender of Asia Cup by Sri Lanka,” said a headline in the daily FT newspaper.
The home team was bowled out in just 15.2 overs with Siraj ripping through the Sri Lankan batting with his 6-21.
Sri Lanka was playing their 11th Asia Cup final but the 116-minute humiliation left fans disappointed and angry.
One fan complained in a video post on social media that Sri Lanka were all out even before he could get to his seat at the 35,000-capacity Premadasa stadium.
Another on social media said the Sri Lankan innings lasted less than the time taken to drink a bottle of arak, the island nation’s firewater spirit made from fermented coconut or sugarcane.
Colombo’s Daily Mirror said the final was a “mismatch between two opponents in completely different weight classes.
“As heavyweights India completely battered, bruised, bloodied and bashed in Sri Lanka’s flyweight batting line-up for an emphatic 10-wicket win.”