Dunith Wellalage struck in each of his first three overs. (Pic by Shan Rupassara)

Dunith Wellalage’s all-round heroics could not save Sri Lanka as India recorded a 41-run win to enter the Asia Cup Final in their Super Four game played at R. Premadasa International Stadium yesterday. Wellalage earned himself the Man of the Match award for his 5 for 40 and unbeaten 42.

The Sri Lanka top order threw away their wickets in their quest to chase down the 214-run target but were all out for 172.

Openers Pathum Nissanka (6 in 7 balls with a four) and experienced Dimuth Karunaratne scored only 2, as Sri Lanka were struggling to make runs. Kusal Mendis scored 15 in 16 balls with 3 fours but paceman Jasprit Bumrah accounted for his second wicket.

However, Charith Asalanka departed, scoring only 22 in 35 balls with 2 fours. Adding to the disappointment, Dasun Shanaka was also dismissed for 9 runs by Ravindra Jadeja.

The 63 runs 7th wicket partnership between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dunith Wellalage failed to surpass expectations as Dhananjaya was unfortunately out for 41 from 66 balls with 5 fours with Jadeja making a breakthrough. However, Young Wellalage made a fighting unbeaten knock of 42 in 46 with 3 fours and a six but there was no one to support him. Indian leggie Kuldeep Yadav finished with 4 for 43 after the previous day’s five-wicket haul while Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each.

With this victory, India qualified for the final with 4 points. Both Sri Lanka and Pakistan have two points each.

India batting first laid a solid platform with skipper Rohit Sharma who made 53 in 48 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes and Shubman Gill with 19 in 25 balls with 2 fours adding 80 runs in 11.1 overs as they were firmly placed at 65 for no loss during the first Power Play. Sri Lanka bowlers were under pressure at this stage while skipper Dasun Shanaka bowled 3 overs giving away 24 runs and Kasun Rajitha bowled 4 overs and gave away 30 runs.

However, young Dunith Wellalage was introduced into the attack in the 12th over where he cleaned bowled Gill off the first delivery. Virat Kohli was out for 3 runs in 12 balls with skipper Dasun Shanaka taking an easy catch at short mid-wicket. This was a big wicket for Sri Lanka as Dunith struck again inhis second over.

Dunith outfoxed a well-settled Rohit Sharma in his third over after the batsman completed his back-to-back fifty and India were struggling with 91 for 3 wickets.

Wellalage picked up his fourth wicket by removing K.L Rahul off a return catch in the 30th over. Rahul scored 39 in 44 balls with 2 fours.

The part-time off-spinner Charith Asalanka was also an effective bowler taking his best figures of 4 for 18 in his 9-over spell. Hardik Pandya scored 5 in 18 balls before Dunith Wellalage accounted for his fifth wicket. His outside edge was caught by Kusal Mendis.

India were 197 for 9 wickets as rain interrupted the game in the 47th over but resumed at 7.15 pm as India were all out for 213 in 49.1 overs with the last wicket taken by mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana who finished 1 for 41 and all ten wickets shared by three spinners Dunith Wellalage, Charith Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana marked a historic moment. Since 1997 in this same venue, Sri Lankan spinners took all ten wickets against India and this is the second time after 26 years.