The final match of the Asia Cup 2023 in Colombo showcased a remarkable display of Mohammed Siraj’s deadly bowling skills that left cricket enthusiasts, including influential figures like Anand Mahindra, utterly amazed.
When Sri Lanka faced off against India, luck smiled upon the home team as they won the toss and chose to bat first. What unfolded was an astonishing exhibition of fast bowling, led by none other than Mohammed Siraj.
The turning point came in Sri Lanka’s fifth over of their innings, when Mohammed Siraj grabbed center stage and bowled an over that will go down in cricket lore. He took four Sri Lankan wickets in the space of only one over, reducing them to a pitiful 12/5. The level of excellence displayed on the field awed the crowd and cricket enthusiasts.
Pathum Nissanka was the first person to fall prey to Siraj’s powers. He bowled a length ball that was well-directed and nipped inward, forcing Nissanka to take a shot. At backward point, Ravindra Jadeja brilliantly intercepted his attempt to direct the ball behind square.
Samarawickrama, who was in good form, was next in line. A fuller ball that veered sharply inward was delivered by Siraj. Samarawickrama’s tardy shot attempt was met with a loud LBW appeal.
Siraj wasn’t done yet, as if that weren’t enough. Charith Asalanka, who had recently won a thriller match against Pakistan, became prey as the third wicket in the over. Asalanka was slightly misled by Siraj’s full delivery, and his early drive attempt resulted in an easy catch by Ishan Kishan at covers. The Lankans were in complete disarray at the time, and Asalanka left the game without scoring any runs.
Dhananjaya de Silva received the last strike in this remarkable over. He attempted to force a wide outswinger that he might have easily left to go by during a careless moment of batting. Instead, KL Rahul successfully caught a thin edge from beyond the wickets. An unusual occurrence in One Day Internationals (ODIs), four wickets falling in a single over, completely disorganized Sri Lanka’s batting order.
The remarkable display of skill and precision by Mohammed Siraj did not go unnoticed. India’s business tycoon and famous Anand Mahindra, took to Twitter to express his amazement. In his tweet, he wrote, “I don’t think I have EVER before felt my heart weep for our opponents… It’s as if we have unleashed a supernatural force upon them… @mdsirajofficial you are a Marvel Avenger…”
