• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

India pacer Mohammed Siraj was all over Sri Lanka's batting line-up as he picked six wickets in the Asia Cup final to finish with his best ODI figures on Sunday. It was not all from the speedster as he went one step ahead and did the heartwarming act for the groundsmen by dedicating his Player of the Match cash reward to them.

India lifted their eighth Asia Cup title, the most by any team in the competition. Rohit Sharma-led side thrashed the defending champions Sri Lanka by ten wickets as they registered one of the biggest wins in the ODIs.

Siraj was awarded Player of the Match for his 6-21 in his seven overs to bundle out Sri Lanka's innings for 50/10 in 15.2 overs. He also became the first Indian pacer to clinch four wickets in an ODI and finished with the fourth-best bowling figure for the country in the format.

ALSO READ: Mohammed Siraj Attains His Best ODI Bowling Figures 6/21, Says 'Feels Like A Dream'

"No biryani here. Have been bowling well since a long time. Was missing the edges earlier. But found them today. The wicket was seaming earlier, but there was swing today. Thought that I will bowl fuller because of the swing. When there's good bonding between fast bowlers, it's helpful for the team," Siraj said at the post-match presentation.

"I was thinking it would be great if I could stop the boundary. My best spell. This cash prize goes to the groundsmen. This tournament wouldn't have been possible without them," he added.

Earlier, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) announced a prize money of USD 50,000 for the dedicated curators and ground staff at Colombo and Kandy. The tournament was heavily affected by the rains in Pallekele and Colombo but the groundstaff did a fantabulous job of keeping the outfield dry.   

ALSO READ: SLC, ACC Announce USD 50,000 As Reward For Ground Staff Of Colombo And Pallekele

In the tournament, Siraj bagged 10 wickets in four innings, second best after Matheesha Pathirana's 11 scalps in six matches.

He was preferred ahead of veteran pacer Mohammed Shami in the continental tournament and he proved his mettle in the summit clash to take India home. This performance will surely give him and India a major boost ahead of next month's ODI World Cup.