Kuldeep Yadav claimed figures of 4/43 as India booked their place in the final of the Asia Cup by defeating Sri Lanka by 41 runs in their second Super 4 match at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill got India off to a fantastic start. The pair added 80 runs for the first wicket before Dunith Wellalage pegged the visitors back with wickets of Gill (19), Virat Kohli (3) and Rohit (53), leaving them in a spot of bother at 91/3.
The pair of Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul anchored the innings with a valuable 63 run stand for the fourth wicket stand before the latter was caught and bowled by Wellalage for 39.
Kishan then miscued an attempted big hit off Charith Asalanka to short extra cover for 33. Left arm spinner Wellalage completed a well deserved five-fer by dismissing Hardik Pandya caught behind the stumps off the final delivery off his spell.
Asalanka picked up wickets off Jasprit Bumrah (5) and Kuldeep Yadav in successive deliveries, but Axar Patel scored a defiant 26 to take India to 213.
In response, Sri Lanka got off to a poor start as Pathum Nissanka was caught behind off Jasprit Bumrah for 6. The star Indian pacer also sent back Kusal Mendis (15) with a well-disguised slower delivery.
Mohammed Siraj then got into the act by dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne (2) caught at slip by Shubman Gill leaving the hosts in trouble at 25/3.
The pair of Sadeera Samarawickrama along with Charith Asalanka added 43 runs for the fourth wicket stand before the former was stumped while attempting a heave off Kuldeep for 17.
Asalanka was caught by wicket keeper Rahul off a mistimed sweep off Kuldeep for 22. The pair of Dhananjaya de Silva along with Dunith Wellalage kept the Indian bowlers at bay with a seventh wicket stand of 63 runs before the former was caught at caught mid on by Gill off Ravi Jadeja for 41.
Maheesh Theekshana (2) then fell to a fine catch at mid on by substitute fielder Suryakumar Yadav off Hardik Pandya. Kuldeep then cleaned up Kasun Rajitha (1) and Matheesha Pathirana (0) as the Lankans were bowled out for 172, giving India a 41 run win.
With the win, The Men in Blue have booked their spot in the final on Sunday.
India 213 (Rohit 53, Rahul 39, Wellalage 5-40, Asalanka 4-18) beat Sri Lanka 172 (Wellalage 42*, de Silva 41, Kuldeep 4-43, Bumrah 2-30, Jadeja 2-33) by 41 runs