India vs Sri Lanka: Top 3 Memorable Encounters in Asia Cup

Asia Cup 2008, the best of the lot as we look at the top 3 memorable encounters for India vs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup history. 

India and Sri Lanka have faced the most number of times in Asia Cup history. Coincidentally, the record stands even at 10-10 from the 20 matches they have faced against each other. While India have won 9 ODIs and 1 T20I, Sri Lanka have won 10 ODIs. 

The last time India faced Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup was in 2016, which was also a T20 format. India won the match by 5 wickets, courtesy of Kohli’s match-winning fifty. But how about some of their best encounters in Asia Cup history? Well, let’s find out the top 3 most memorable encounters for India vs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup.

Top 3 Memorable Matches in Asia Cup – India vs Sri Lanka

#3: Asia Cup 2004 – India hold their nerve to win a thriller

India: 271/6 (50 Overs) // Sri Lanka: 267/9 (50 Overs)

Virender Sehwag: 81(92) // Sourav Ganguly: 79(120) // Virender Sehwag: 3/36

Sanath Jayasuriya: 130(132) // Tillakaratne Dilshan: 39(46) // Lasith Malinga: 2/56

The match that shall be remembered for Virender Sehwag’s all-round show. Batting first, Sehwag led the batting with a stunning knock of 81 off 92 balls. With support from Sourav Ganguly’s patient knock of 79 off 120  balls, India ended on 271/6 in 50 overs. 

In reply, Sanath Jayasuriya led the chase with a counter-attack. Even as wickets kept falling at the other end, Jayasuriya made sure the run rate was above the required rate. With Sri Lanka in the driver’s seat at 235/4 in 43 overs, India needed something magical to win from here.

Virender Sehwag did exactly that as he got the set Dilshan and Jayasuriya in the 44th and 48th over respectively. Even when Jayasuriya got out, Sri Lanka had 3 wickets in hand, and needed only 18 from 17 balls. But some tight bowling from Sehwag, Irfan, and Zaheer meant Sri Lanka fell short of the target by 4 runs.  

#2: Asia Cup 2008 – India record their biggest chase vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka: 308/8 (50 Overs) // India: 310/4 (46.5 Overs)

Chamara Kapugedera: 75(78) // Chamara Silva: 50(56) //  Muralidharan: 2/44

Gautam Gambhir: 68(61) // MS Dhoni: 67(62) // Ishant Sharma: 2/55

The 2008 Asia Cup group stage match saw Team  India record their biggest chase vs Sri Lanka in Asia Cup history. Batting first, Sri Lanka scored a solid 308/8 in 50 overs. Jayawardene, Kapugedera, and Chamara Silva scored valuable fifties. Whereas for India, Ishant ended with a spell of 2/55. 

In reply, India looked settled right from the start. The duo of Gambhir (68) and Sehwag (42) got India off to a flying start scoring 92 in just 11 overs. Even after their wickets, Raina (54), Dhoni (67), Yuvraj (36*) and Rohit (22*) scored important runs to help chase the target in just 46.5 overs. Meanwhile, Muralidharan ended with a spell of 2/44.

#1: Asia Cup 2008 – Ajantha Mendis Creates Havoc

Sri Lanka: 273/10 (49.5 Overs) // India: 173/10 (39.3 Overs)

Sanath Jayasuriya: 125(114) // Tilakaratne Dilshan: 56(74) // Ajantha Mendis: 6/13

Virender Sehwag: 60(36) // MS Dhoni: 49(74) // Ishant Sharma: 3/52

Who can forget the magical spell of Ajantha Mendis in the Asia Cup 2008 final? It was the night every Indian would like to forget. Having dominated the group stage match against Sri Lanka, the chapter of Ajantha Mendis came out of the syllabus in the Asia Cup 2008 final exam for India.

After restricting Sri Lanka to 273 runs in their first innings, Virender Sehwag looked in beast mode during the chase having scored 60 off 35 balls until the storm of Ajantha Mendis arrived. It was Mendis’ debut series, and India were playing him for the first time.

Virender Sehwag, who seldom considers Spinners as bowlers danced down the track to Mendis on the very second ball of his spell. But he couldn’t read the ball as Sehwag got stumped. After that, Mendis was unstoppable as he derailed India’s batting line-up to close India’s innings at 173 runs in 39.3 overs. 

So, that’s about the summary of the India vs Sri Lanka top 3 memorable encounters in Asia Cup history. Please watch this space for all updates on the article in the near future.  

Thanks for reading! Which is your favorite India vs Sri Lanka match in Asia Cup? Please email your thoughts to cric8fanatic@gmail.com

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