Mohammed Siraj finishes off in style: Pacer hits 16 runs in final over as India beat Sri Lanka Cricket XI

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Mohammed Siraj finishes off in style: Pacer hits 16 runs in final over as India beat Sri Lanka Cricket XI originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Mohammed Siraj smashed three sixes in the final over to finish India's warm-up chase in style.
  • India beat the Sri Lanka Cricket XI by six wickets in the Colombo practice match.
  • Devdutt Padikkal's unbeaten 142 was the standout batting performance of the game.

Mohammed Siraj ends India's warm-up chase with three sixes

Mohammed Siraj is renowned for his new-ball spells, but it was his batting that provided the flourish as India wrapped up their warm-up match against a Sri Lanka Cricket XI in Colombo. The pacer walked in late and smashed three consecutive sixes to seal the chase emphatically.

With India closing in on their target of 207, Siraj arrived at the crease after Manav Suthar retired out and immediately turned the finish into a spectacle. Facing the final over of the day, he cleared the ropes three times in a row to see India home with plenty to spare.

Siraj finished unbeaten on 32 off just 15 balls, a cameo that had his teammates and the Indian slip cordon in stitches. India completed a comfortable six-wicket victory, reaching 214 for 4 in 45 overs, a confidence-boosting result ahead of the Test series.

MORE: IND vs SLC XI practice Test: Scores and highlights as India win by 6 wickets

Devdutt Padikkal and Ravindra Jadeja star in India warm-up win

While Siraj provided the entertainment at the end, the batting foundations had been laid earlier by Devdutt Padikkal. The Karnataka left-hander made an unbeaten 142 in the first innings, staking a strong claim for the number three spot vacated by the injured Sai Sudharsan.

Ravindra Jadeja, back in the India setup, chipped in with a useful 50, while Yashasvi Jaiswal made a brisk 61 before retiring hurt, and Shubman Gill returned to score 44 despite a training niggle. The all-round batting effort will please the team management ahead of the opening Test in Galle.

For the Sri Lanka Cricket XI, Nishan Madushka was the standout performer, scoring fifties in both innings, including a top score of 63 in the second. The hosts declared twice to set up a competitive finish, before Siraj's late blitz settled matters.

MORE: BCCI tightens fitness norms with Bronco, 2K tests post India injury crisis

Fans react to Siraj's fiery knock

A light-hearted finish that carries a familiar sting for Sri Lanka

There is a running joke in Indian cricket about Mohammed Siraj's fondness for facing Sri Lanka, and this cameo only added to it.

Fans were quick to recall his famous 6 for 21 in the 2023 Asia Cup final, and a bowler finishing a chase against Sri Lankan opposition with three sixes felt like another entry in that one-sided rivalry.

Beyond the fun, the warm-up ticked the important boxes for India. Padikkal answered the No. 3 question, Jadeja found rhythm on his return, and the batting group spent time in the middle against spin in match conditions.

It counts for little on the scoreboard once the Tests begin, but as preparation goes, India could hardly have asked for a more encouraging or enjoyable finish.

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