Asia Cup Finals 2022: Rajapaksa’s, Hasaranga and Madhushan leads Sri Lanka’s win

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 It was a remarkable performance as Sri Lanka produced a stunning comeback to beat Pakistan in the finals of Asia Cup 2022 played at Dubai International Stadium, Dubai on Sunday.

Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss and decided to field first. It was an ideal start as Naseem Shah produced a peach to get rid of Kusal Mendis in the very 1st over itself. Dhananjaya de Silva looked in decent touch showing intent right from word go. Haris Rauf got the big wicket of Pathum Nissanka with a simple catch to Babar Azam at mid-off to leave Lanka in trouble. Rauf shattered the stumps produced stunning delivery dismissing Danushka Gunathilka. At the end of the first six overs, Sri Lanka ended at 42 for 3.

Iftikhar Ahmed bowled decent overs before dismissing Dhanajaya de Silva with a simple return catch. Shahdab Khan then got rid of Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka leaving Lanka in big trouble at 58 for 5. Hasaranga showed intent putting the Pakistan bowlers under pressure while Bhanuka Rajapaksa also made the batting look easy. Both Sri Lankan batters kept the momentum going with boundaries and taking singles with ease. Rajapaksa took on Pakistan bowlers while Hasaranga looked confident with his shots.

Rauf struck dismissing Hasaranga caught by Rizwan to end a strong partnership. Hasaranga and Rajapaksa added 58 runs for the 6th wicket. Rajapaksa upped the ante with some lovely shots completing fifty off 35 balls. The Pakistani fielding was not great as they dropped two chances, especially well-set Rajapaksa. Chamika Karaunate gave good support showing his class. Rajapaksa gave the momentum for Sri Lanka with big shots in the last 2 balls helping Sri Lanka post 170 for 6. Karaunate and Rajapaksa added unbeaten 54 runs for the 7th wicket.

Chasing 171 runs to win, it was not an ideal start for Lanka in the first over conceding nine extras. Pramod Madushan rattled the Pakistan batting line-up with 2 wickets dismissing Babar Azam with a lovely catch by Madhushanka at short fine leg and then Fakhar Zaman taking the inside edge onto the stumps. Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed struggled against disciplined Lankan bowling. At the end of the first six overs, Pakistan made 37 for 2.

The pressure kept on mounting as Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed could not hit big shots at regular intervals. Madhushan got his 3rd wicket dismissing Iftikhar with a simple catch to substitute Bandara at deep midwicket. Rizwan and Iftikhar added 71 runs for the 3rd wicket. Dhanajaya de Silva bowled a superb over not allowing Mohammad Nawaz to hit big shots. Rizwan looked composed completing fifty off 47 balls.

With the run rate climbing, Karaunate dismissed Nawaz to leave Pakistan on the back foot. Hasaranga showed his skills taking 3 wickets in an over dismissing Rizwan, Asif Ali, and Khushdil Shah denting Pakistan's chances. It was one-way traffic as Sri Lankan bowlers kept picking wickets at regular intervals.

Chamika Karaunate hit the winning runs with a lovely yorker to dismiss Haris Rauf bowling out Pakistan for 147.

Sri Lanka 170 for 6 in 20 overs ( Rajapaksa 71*, Hasaranga 36, Rauf 3/29) beat Pakistan 147 in 20 overs ( Rizwan 55, Iftikhar 32, Pramod Madhushan 4/34, Hasaranga 3/27) by 23 runs.

For his unbeaten 71, Bhaunka Rajapaksa was named the man of the match award while Hasaranga was named the man of the series for his all-round performances.



 





Sri Lanka stun Pakistan by 23 runs to win their 6th Asia Cup title 

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