Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs on Sunday to win their sixth Asia Cup title at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sri Lanka has clinched Asia Cup for 6th times.
Pakistani team had a brilliant start to their evening, having won the all-important toss and deciding to field first — a trick that had worked for them every single time in the tournament until tonight as the team lost the final match to Sri Lanka.
Pakistan’s pace attack with Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf gave them a good start and at one point it had seemed if Sri Lanka would even be able to bat out their full overs. However, after the first 10 overs, Pakistan captain Babar Azam surprisingly opted for a defensive approach, allowing Sri Lanka to make an almost miraculous recovery to finish with 170-6.
In reply, Babar Azam failed for the sixth straight time in the tournament and Fakhar Zaman was castled on a golden duck. That forced the pairing of Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed to bat with care — a job they probably did for longer than required.
As the required run rate soared to 12, Pakistan batters took their chances but their gambles failed miserably as Sri Lankans did not allow them an inch and did not put a foot wrong.
In the end, an astonishing collapse saw Pakistan fold for 147 as Sri Lanka were crowned champions for the sixth time.
Earlier, Rajapaksa’s 71 runs off 45 balls helped Sri Lanka set a 171-run target for Pakistan in the final game of the Asia Cup 2022. Like earlier matches, captain Babar Azam disappointed Pakistani cricket lovers with his poor batting and he lost his wicket for just 22 runs. Sri Lankans also sent Fakhar Zaman back to pavilion on zero, making the match more sensational.
Sri Lanka were asked to bat first by Babar Azam, who won the toss at the start of the match.
Some fiery bowling by the Pakistani bowlers had left Sri Lanka 62/5 by the end of nine overs and it seemed as if Pakistan would end up getting a below-par target.
However, a 58-run partnership between Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva and Rajapaksa provided a perfect launch pad for Sri Lanka to set a competitive target. The partnership ended after Hasaranga de Silva, who was the aggressor, was removed by Haris Rauf in the 15th over.
By the time the sixth wicket fell, Rajapaksa was well set to launch a counterattack on the Pakistani bowlers. His 54-run partnership with Chamika Karunaratne pushed Sri Lanka to 170/6 at the end of their 20 overs.
For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the highest wicket-taker for the Men in Green with three wickets. While Naseem Shah, Shadab Khan, and Iftikhar Ahmed ended up with one wicket each.
Squads:
Pakistan: Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Fakhar Zaman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Asif Ali, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Danushka Gunathilaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka.
