Dubai : Dasun Shanaka led Sri Lanka clinch Asia Cup title for the 6th time, their 1st since 2014. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs at Dubai International Stadium to achieve the feat.
After being defeated in the 1st Game against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka didn’t look back, as they marched forward to win 5 games in a row , thereby winning the title.
Defending a target of 171 , Sri Lanka didn’t start too well , but they quickly recovered in the very 3rd over of Pramod Madhusan who picked up 2 quick successive wickets of Babar Azam & Fakhar Zaman but Pakistan seemed getting control generally because of the partnership forming between Mohammad Rizwan & Iftikhar Ahmed. After a partnership of 71 runs, Iftikhar Ahmed was dismissed in the over if Pramod Madhusan yet again, and this was the turning point of the match, as wickets including Mohammad Rizwan & rest of the middle order collapsed, especially in the 15th over, bowled by Wanidu Hasaranga where he picked up 3 wickets and turned the game completely in the favor of Sri Lanka . Pakistan’s backbone broke and couldn’t recover from it , thereby got restricted to 147 runs, thus, Sri Lanka achieved a historic win.
Earlier in the 1st innings, Sri Lanka lost the toss & was put to Bat 1st….They struggled initially with 58/5 , but Bhanuka Rajapaksa with 71*(45) & Wanidu Hasaranga with 36(21) helped Sri Lanka to comeback strongly & score a huge total of 170 on the board which Pakistan weren’t able to chase.
BRIEF SCORECARD
1st Innings :
Sri Lanka : 170-6(20)
Bhanuka Rajapaksa : 71*(45)
Wanidu Hasaranga : 36(21)
Pakistan
Haris Rauf : 3/29
2nd Innings :
Pakistan : 147 (20)
Mohammad Rizwan : 55(49)
Iftikhar Ahmed : 32(31)
Sri Lanka
Pramod Madhusan : 4/34
Wanidu Hasaranga : 3/27
