Dubai 12th of September : A stunning display by Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga and Pramod Madushan guided Sri Lanka to Asia Cup 2022 title with an impressive 23-win victory over Pakistan in the final match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, here on Sunday. Sri Lanka’s sixth Asia Cup title — 1986, 1997, 2004 2008, 2004 and 2022.
After losing the opening match against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka beat Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and then again Pakistan to win the 2022 Asia Cup.
A dazzling fighting fifty by Bhanuka Rajapaksa (71 not out of 45) and an attack knock from Wanindu Hasaranga (36 off 21) helped propel Sri Lanka to a fighting total of 170/6 in 20 overs.In addition to Rajapaksa and Hasaranga, Dhananjaya de Silva (28 off 21) and Chamika Karunaratne (14 not out of 14) also made crucial knocks for Sri Lanka, during their time at the crease.
Aiming for a tough number, Pakistan were helped by some sloppy bowling of Dilshan Madushanka who scored 12 runs in the first over, rife with wides and an uncontrolled swing.
But Pakistan did not get the benefit of this momentum because Sri Lanka found a hero in Pramod Madushan who was able to dismiss Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman in consecutive delivery and helped the team to climb to top.
Babar, who hasn’t hit fifty in six T20I games in succession and then swung one straight to a short fine before Zaman cut the ball off his wicket.With the score at 22/2 following 3.3 innings, Pakistan were in a position of difficulty but the well-played Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed batted with caution to take charge of the recovery of their team.
Rizwan was spotting crucial boundaries regularly to keep the scoreboard moving.On the other side, Iftikhar, who got an opportunity to rest in between, was providing much-needed support.
Pakistan were 68/2 after a mere 10 overs.
While Pakistan had wickets in the bag but the necessary rate was increasing with each passing.
Iftikhar scored Hasaranga for a crucial six and boundary, which gave an impetus to the run chase.He tried to replicate the feat against Madushan but the ball hit the height and not the distance.with the fielder in deep backward square.He was able to get under it and he held the ball in a safe manner and left Pakistan with a score of 93-3 following 13.2 overs.
From that point, Pakistan needed to put the pedal to the metal however Sri Lanka bowled and fielded with great skill.
They drained the runs, thereby increasing the pressure, while increasing the run rate.
All-rounder Mohammad Nawaz couldn’t deliver the major hits, falling to 6 against Karunaratne.
It was now the turn of Rizwan who was the batter set, to lead Pakistan to victory as they required 69 off just 28 deliveries.
After completing the half century mark, Rizwan was outfoxed by Hasaranga as Sri Lanka etched closer to victory with the required run rate nearly reaching the mark of 16 runs.
Hasaranga was then was dismissed Asif Ali with a duck in the first ball.He then followed it up with Khushdil Shah for 2.
In the end, Karunaratne got the final wicket of Haris Rauf (13) as Pakistan were bowled out for 147 in 20 overs, and lost by 23 runs.Pramod Madushan (4/34) and Wanindu Hasaranga (3/27) were the top wicket takers for Sri Lanka while Chamika Karunaratne (2/33) and Maheesh Theekshana (1/25) also contributed in with an important wicket.
In the earlier innings, when they were put in the bat first Sri Lanka were off to a poor start losing three wickets in the powerplay against high-quality pace bowling.In the first over the pacer Naseem Shah clean bowled Mendis who was not quick enough to drop his bat on a good length ball.
Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva followed up with a couple of boundaries, demonstrating some fighting to come back.
Then, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam brought Haris Rauf into the attack, and he brought Sri Lanka back in trouble by taking the wickets of Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka.
With a swift delivery at 146 kph Nissanka made a lofted shot but the ball only went to mid-off, from where Babar Azam took a good catch as he ran back.The pacer then smashed the stumps of Gunathilaka and left Sri Lanka in deep trouble at 36/3 after 5.1 overs.
Of the entire group of Sri Lankan batters, Dhananjaya de Silva appeared the most comfortable and it appeared he could help the team out of trouble.
However, Iftikhar Ahmed got rid of De Silva with a amazing reaction catch from the bowl of his own in the ninth over.
Then, in the second over Shadab Khan broke through the defense of Sri Lanka spinner Dasun Shanaka, who tried an arduous slog, but failed to connect.At an average of 58/5 in 8.5 overs Sri Lanka were in danger of being bowled out, however Rajapaksa and Hasaranga were determined and fought back.
Both Rajapaksa and Hasaranga appeared in control of spinners, and both hit three boundaries off Shadab Khan.Hasaranga then hit a boundary and a massive six over the backward point to give the momentum for the Sri Lankan innings.
From whom else than Hasaranga – 36 from 21.He was adamant in his battle against Shadab, Hasnain and now Rauf again, pounding the pacer to score two fours.Then he hit one over the keeper.What this wicket did is bring the game to life.Up to the ninth over the match was all Pakistan.
Hasaranga continued to push the pace and greeted Haris Rauf with two boundaries before the pacer smashed the batter to end an important 58-run stand to take the sixth wicket that brought the game alive.
After the loss of Hasaranga, Rajapaksa had the task of batting until the end of the over, and he did it with perfect accuracy.He scored sixes and boundaries to finish his century in 35 balls.
The left-hander also had a strong help from Chamika Karunaratne.This was crucial for a strong end for Sri Lanka.
Rajapaksa as well as Karunaratne did not go out, adding 54 runs in just 31 balls, and brought Sri Lanka to 170/6 in 20 overs.
In Pakistan, Haris Rauf (3/29) was the top choice of the bowlers with three wickets, while Iftikhar Ahmed (1/21), Shadab Khan (1/28) and Naseem Shah (1/40) were the other wicket takers.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 170/6 in 20 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 71 not out, Wanindu Hasaranga 36; Haris Rauf 3/29) beat Pakistan 147 all out in 20 overs (Mohammad Rizwan 55, Iftikhar Ahmed 32; Pramod Madushan 4/34, Wanindu Hasaranga 3/27) by 23 overs
avn/bsk
