Ishan Kishan smashed an unbeaten 80 as India produced a dominant all-round performance to crush Sri Lanka by 124 runs and book a place in the Asian Games cricket final against Pakistan on Thursday.
Sent in to bat, India posted 169 for 7 in their 20 overs, with Kishan anchoring the innings with a 46-ball unbeaten knock that included four boundaries and five sixes. Opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi provided the early impetus with a brisk 21-ball 38.
India then dismantled Sri Lanka's chase, bowling them out for just 45 in 9.5 overs. Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel claimed two wickets each, while Abhishek Sharma took two for just two runs and Washington Sundar picked up one.
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Nuwanidu Fernando was Sri Lanka's only batter to reach double figures, scoring 15, while five of their batters failed to open their accounts.
Sri Lanka's bowlers had made early inroads after India were sent in, with Sahan Arachchige and Tharindu Ratnayake taking two wickets apiece. Wanuja Sahan, Nuwanidu Fernando and Lasith Croospulle claimed one wicket each.
But India's total proved far beyond Sri Lanka's reach as the defending champions' bowlers ran through the batting order to seal a comprehensive victory.
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India will now face Pakistan in the gold-medal match, setting up a high-voltage Asian Games final between the two rivals.
Brief scores
India: 169/7 in 20 overs (Ishan Kishan 80*; Sahan Arachchige 2/28).
Sri Lanka: 45 all out in 9.5 overs (Nuwanidu Fernando 15; Jasprit Bumrah 2/7, Axar Patel 2/8, Abhishek Sharma 2/2).
(With inputs from PTI)
