Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s unbeaten 71 and Wanindu Hasaranga’s key contributions with each and ball fired Sri Lanka to their sixth Asia Cup title with a 23-run win over Pakistan on Sunday.
Quick bowler Pramod Madushan (4/34) and Hasaranga (3/27) shared seven wickets between them to bowl out Pakistan for 147 whereas chasing 171 in Dubai.
Earlier the left-handed Rajapaksa placed on a key 58-run stand for the sixth wicket with Hasaranga, who hit 36, to assist Sri Lanka to 170/6 after being in hassle at 58/5.
Sri Lanka, who needed to abandon plans to host the competitors as a result of political unrest, bounced again from an embarrassing opening defeat by Afghanistan to win the event, a curtain-raiser for subsequent month’s T20 World Cup in Australia.
Listed here are some reactions to Sri Lanka’s triumph:
Afghanistan ❌
Bangladesh ✅
Afghanistan ✅
India ✅
Pakistan ✅
Pakistan ✅Dasun Shanaka’s Sri Lankan crew wins 5 straight video games to say the Asia Cup title in type 🙌🏽https://t.co/DOf5Yag5sd pic.twitter.com/73HnvshrM6
— The Discipline (@thefield_in) September 11, 2022
Congratulations Sri Lanka ! deserved to win the Asia cup ,After loosing to Afghanistan within the first sport confirmed true character as a unit to win the event 🏟 #SLvsPAK #AsiaCup2022Final properly carried out skipper @dasunshanaka1 🤛
— Yuvraj Singh (@YUVSTRONG12) September 11, 2022
Sri Lankan cricket continues to move in the appropriate course👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻. Asia Cup champions 2022.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) September 11, 2022
@OfficialSLC @dasunshanaka1 @BhanukaRajapak3 wonderful win and completely deserved. Performed like a crew of true champions. You’ve got stored inspiring as a facet.
— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) September 11, 2022
The 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 second 🇱🇰#AsiaCup2022 pic.twitter.com/TnjcUBlo34
— ICC (@ICC) September 11, 2022
Take a bow, Sri Lanka! 🙌 🙌
Males’s #AsiaCup Champions for the 6️⃣th time! 🏆#RoaringForGlory #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/9xf2sjlIBX
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) September 11, 2022
5 – @OfficialSLC have now received every of their final 5 males’s T20I video games on the bounce, the final time they received as many video games in a streak was from Dec 2013- Mar 2014. Champions.#SLvPAK #AsiaCup2022Final pic.twitter.com/CXk5EniRPg
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) September 11, 2022
And, Sri Lanka, could you may have far more to smile about.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 11, 2022
Good toss to lose boys !! Confirmed character and keenness to play for the nation and so pleased with every one… benefit from the victory as whole nation will.. good crew effort #AsiaCup2022 👊
— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) September 11, 2022
That is such a rewarding outcome for Sri Lanka. Blown away by Afghanistan in 1st match; however since then; each sport a should win sport. They’ve stored the depth going, the assumption intact and backed their expertise. Congrats 👏🏻👏🏻@OfficialSLC #Champions #AsiaCupFinal2022 #SLvPAK
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) September 11, 2022
My nation is in a multitude and has gone by a lot turmoil within the final six months. This Asia Cup win will cheer up people at dwelling. Simply think about how good this crew goes to be when Chameera and Avishka return from damage for World Cup.
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) September 11, 2022
Delighted for Chris Silverwood, who has simply led Sri Lanka to the Asia Cup. Good coach and good individual given no probability by England’s unattainable schedules and Covid protocols.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) September 11, 2022
A sure captain donning a blue jersey No. 7 main a younger bunch of thrilling gamers to a title win after beating Pakistan within the closing. Yep, M̶S̶ D̶h̶o̶n̶i̶ Dasun Shanaka. #SLvPAK #AsiaCup2022 #AsiaCupFinal2022
— S. Sudarshanan (@Sudarshanan7) September 11, 2022
Bhanuka Rajapaksa is a robust shout for the Participant-of-the-Match distinction.
The left-hand batter’s nerveless cameos and unbeaten 71* within the closing have been key to Sri Lanka’s turnaround.#AsiaCup | #AsiaCup2022Final
— Annesha Ghosh (@ghosh_annesha) September 11, 2022
Kings and Queens of Asia! What a day! #AsiaCup2022 #ANC2022 pic.twitter.com/zfQFMlS1IQ
— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) September 11, 2022
Heads up my Champions!
You gave your finest and do not let any agendas let you know in any other case. We’ll develop from this and ensure to bounce again like the best way we often do.
Congrats Srilanka. You earned it. pic.twitter.com/VRGa692GOj
— Shaheen Shah Afridi (@iShaheenAfridi) September 11, 2022
Actually deserved victory 🏆 🇱🇰 #AsiaCup2022
— Nooshin AL Khadeer (@NooshinKhadeer) September 11, 2022
Most males’s Asia Cup titles
India: 7
𝗦𝗿𝗶 𝗟𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗮: 𝟲
Pakistan: 2#AsiaCup2022Final #SLvPAK pic.twitter.com/OAwbFk03gW— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 11, 2022
A really particular #AsiaCup victory for @OfficialSLC
In 2022, earlier than the Asia Cup – Received 2 in 11 matches
Misplaced the opening sport of the Asia Cup vs Afg
Then wins 5 in a row to raise the title
An underdog story! #AsiaCup2022Final #PakvSL #SLvsPAK
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) September 11, 2022
Now make me viral https://t.co/vdViq2mpQk
— Sritama (Ross Taylor’s model) (@cricketpun_duh) September 11, 2022
Sri Lanka – 58/5 to 170/6
Pakistan- 93/2 to 147 all out#PAKvsSL #PAKvSL #SLvsPak #SLvPAK #AsiaCup2022Final— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) September 11, 2022
Misplaced the toss.
Misplaced 5 wickets for 58 runs whereas batting first.
Gave 9 runs and not using a ball bowled.Ultimately, Sri Lanka have received the Asia Cup. What a narrative!https://t.co/wH55MySiPL pic.twitter.com/vHgcF5Sf1J
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) September 11, 2022
They started with a heavy loss to Afg earlier than edging out Bang to achieve the Tremendous Fours, the place they remained unbeaten. And within the closing, they mounted a really outstanding fightback. 5 consecutive wins and Sri Lanka bag the title. Take a bow, Dasun Shanaka & Co.#AsiaCup2022 #SLvPAK
— Aditya Chaturvedi (@aditya_c19) September 11, 2022
One of many sweetest event wins I’ve seen shortly. Crew of future. Beat principally everyone. Lion hearted champs. Take a bow, Sri Lanka! #AsiaCup2022
— Tareque Laskar (@tarequelaskar) September 11, 2022
Subsequent month in T20 World Cup
India – Tremendous 12
Pakistan – Tremendous 12
Bangladesh – Tremendous 12
Afghanistan – Tremendous 12
Sri Lanka – must play first sphericalSri Lanka win Asia Cup forward of 4 direct entrants! 🏆#AsiaCup2022Final
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) September 11, 2022
Effectively performed Sri Lanka. Nice perspective, high strategy to the sport. Deserving champions.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 11, 2022
Hats off to Sri Lanka! Received the finals towards heavy odds – Shedding the toss and batting first. 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 11, 2022
Have at all times believed sport, in a way, is like life. You by no means know when issues can flip in your favour. Cling in there and work arduous. #Srilanka did that after beginning this marketing campaign so poorly! WOW! Effectively performed Sri Lanka! Champions #AsiaCup2022Final #SLvsPAK #PAKvsSL
— RK (@RK_sports) September 11, 2022
Sri Lanka’s 58/5 is the worst begin for a facet that went on to win a T20I event closing.#SLvsPAK #SLvPAK #PAKvSL #PAKvsSL #AsiaCup2022Final
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) September 11, 2022
The fielding in the present day has been spectacular past creativeness for anybody who watched SL subject from circa 2015-2020.
Pakistan not a nasty fielding facet, however Sri Lanka have made the distinction between them appear to be a gulf.
— Andrew Fidel Fernando (@afidelf) September 11, 2022
Pakistan skipper Babar Azam received the toss, selecting to subject first with 9 of the earlier 12 matches received by the groups chasing.
However Sri Lanka bucked the pattern because the island nation overcame an impressed opening spell of bowling by Pakistan quicks Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf.
Rajapaksa and Hasaranga rebuilt the innings and repeatedly discovered the boundary to up the scoring charge.
Rauf dismissed Hasaranga, who hit 5 fours and one six in his 21-ball knock, caught behind for his fiftieth T20 wicket to interrupt the damaging stand.
Rajapaksa stored up the assault and survived a dropped catch by Shadab Khan within the deep, quickly reaching his third T20 half-century.
Rajapaksa, who completed the innings with a 4 and 6 off Naseem in his 45-ball blitz, and Chamika Karunaratne placed on 54 runs to additional increase the overall.
Dilshan Madushanka bowled a shaky opening over, beginning with a no-ball and 4 wides, however the left-arm fast swiftly made amends.
Enjoying simply his second T20, Madushanka had Azam caught at brief fine-leg for 5 after which bowled Fakhar Zaman for a first-ball duck the next supply.
Mohammad Rizwan (55) and Iftikhar (32) put collectively a partnership of 71 however Madushan broke the stand with the wicket of Iftikhar.
Rizwan, who surpassed India’s Virat Kohli as the best run-getter of the event with 282, reached his fifty with a six off Chamika Karunaratne however quickly fell to Hasaranga’s leg-spin and the wheels got here off the chase.
Inputs from AFP
