India have chased down Sri Lanka’s 51-run target to win the Asia Cup 2023 title with ease on Sunday (September 17) in Colombo. A shambolic batting display from Sri Lanka sums up the final as India reach the target only in 6.1 overs. The hosts were bowled out for just 50 runs in just 92 legal deliveries (15.2 overs) from the Indian bowlers.

Winning the toss and batting first, Sri Lanka's batting woes were kicked off by India star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who took the wicket of Kusal Perera for a duck in the opening over. Mohammed Siraj then created havoc two overs later. He took 4 wickets in his second over and innings’ fourth over to dismantle Sri Lanka’s batting line-up.

Siraj claimed four wickets in one over, including Pathum Nissanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, and Dhananjaya de Silva, on his way to a five-wicket haul in just three overs.

In the next over, Siraj became the first bowler in ODI history to take five wickets in three overs when he clean bowled Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka with a jaffa. Later in the innings, Siraj took his sixth victim when he castled Kusal Mendis, the only Sri Lankan batter to provide any resistance with 17 runs.

Sri Lanka were reduced to 33/7 and in danger of posting a lowest ODI total (35 runs). However, Sri Lanka’s second batter in the innings who reached the double-digit score, Dushan Hemantha (13* off 15 balls) removed that fair.

Hardik Pandya took Sri Lanka’s last 3 wickets to bundle out the host for just 50 runs in 15.2 overs. This is the lowest total in the history of the Asia Cup (ODI format). The previous record was held by Bangladesh (87 runs) against Pakistan in 2000. This is also the 10th-lowest score and Sri Lanka’s second-lowest total in the history of ODI cricket.

Chasing the target, India experimented with the opening duo as they opted for Shubman Gill and Ishan Kishan, the right hand-left hand duo. Gill and Kishan took no pressure and played fluently in T20 style to finish off the chase in only 6.1 overs.

Kishan was unbeaten on 23 runs off 18 balls with 3 fours and Gill remained unbeaten on 27 runs off 19 balls with 6 fours. Gill finished as the highest run-scorer in the tournament.