Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was ecstatic with his team’s performance on the night of the final of the Asia Cup 2022 against Pakistan in Dubai (September 11). Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs to win the coveted championship title for the sixth time.
Throughout the T20 World Cup 2021 and Asia Cup 2022 in the UAE, a strong trend in the favor of chasing teams was evident. When Babar Azam won the toss and chose to field, the odds were already stacked to his team’s advantage.
In the ninth over, the Lankans were tottering at 58/5. However, a counterattack was launched by Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Wanindu Hasaranga, who added 58 runs for the sixth wicket before the latter was dismissed for a well-made 36 off just 21 balls.
Rajapaksha kept going at full throttle and remained unbeaten on 71 off just 45 balls, propelling his team to 170/6 in 20 overs.
Shanaka said after the match that 170 runs on the board made the difference. He also recalled how the IPL team Chennai Super Kings (CSK), who batted first in the finals of the 2021 season, won the match and they took inspiration from it.
“I want to thank the crowd; they have been supporting us massively. Hopefully, we made them proud today. In IPL 2021, Chennai won the match batting first and that is what was in my mind. These youngsters know the conditions really well. Wanindu made a huge impact after losing five wickets. Chamika and DDS batted really well too. The last ball six was the turning point. 170 was mentally the difference, as 160 always feels chasable. As a youngster, we knew Madushanka would deliver, and as a captain, we had to back him,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
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The Pakistani batters could never have the upper hand over the bowlers. Mohammad Rizwan (55 off 49 balls) and Iftikar Ahmed (32 off 31 balls) put on 71 runs for the third wicket.
But the Lankan bowlers kept hitting the right line and lengths consistently which did not allow any other Pakistan batters to settle in, driving the team home on the last ball of the match.
The 8-wicket defeat against Afghanistan in the tournament's opening match, according to Shanaka, was a blessing in disguise for his team. After that, the team won its next five games in a row.
He went on to say that after the opening loss, there had been serious discussions.
“(On the opening game against Afghanistan) It happened for a good reason. We had serious discussions after that game. Each and every individual did well for us and that is how we became champions. The fielding improved a lot in the finals. We had some mistakes in the league stages. We were 100 percent today, credit to the players and the coaching staff. I want to thank the Sri Lankan cricket board and the selectors as well,” he added.
Pramod Madhushan was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka as he claimed four wickets by giving away 34 runs in his four overs.
Bhanuka Rajapaksha was adjudged Player of the Match. The 25-year-old spinner Wanindu Hasaranga walked away with the Player of the Tournament award for taking 8 scalps in 6 games.
(STAR SPORTS INPUTS)
