Sri Lanka Thrash Pakistan By 23 Runs To Claim Asia Cup 2022 Title

Cricket Image for Sri Lanka Thrash Pakistan By 23 Runs To Claim Asia Cup 2022 Title (Image Source: Google)

PAK vs SL: With an excellent bowling performance, Sri Lanka bowled out Pakistan for 147 runs, beating them by 23 runs to win the Asia Cup 2022. With this win, Sri Lanka have taken their Asia Cup trophy count to six. 

Chasing 171 to win, Pakistan lost their first two wickets inside the powerplay - Babar Azam (5) again failing to score while Fakhar Zaman (0) was dismissed for a golden duck as Pramod Madushan picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries. Madushan was the top wicket-taker with 4 wickets to his name.

Wanindu Hasaranga was the other key bowler as Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan (55) who was looking dangerous after getting set, was dismissed on the first delivery of the 17th over by Hasaranga. The Sri Lankan star all-rounder went on to pick two more wickets in the over - Asif Ali (0) & Khushdil Shah (2) and turned the match in Sri Lanka's favour. 

For Pakistan, Rizwan was the top scorer with 55 runs off 49 balls with 4 fours & a six while Iftikhar Ahmed scored 32 runs off 31 balls. None of the other batters crossed the 20-run mark as Pakistan fell short and lost the chance to win their third Asia Cup title. For Sri Lanka, Madushan picked up 4 wickets, Hasaranga grabbed 3 wickets, Chamika Karunaratne picked up 2 wickets & Maheesh Theekshana picked up 1 wicket.

In the first innings, After a top-order collapse, explosive Bhanuka Rajapaksa steered Sri Lanka to a respectable 170/6 in the Asia Cup 2022 final. Pakistan now needs 171 runs in 20 overs to win their third Asia Cup title. 

After Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis (0) in the first over, Pathum Nissanka (8) in the 4th over and Danushka Gunathilaka (1) in the 6th over, Sri Lanka looked moving toward a below-par total.

Dhananjaya de Silva (28) was dismissed by Iftikhar Ahmed in the 8th over while captain Dasun Shanaka (2) was cleaned up in the 9th over by Shadab Khan. However, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga etched a partnership of 58 runs in 36 balls for the 6th wicket. Hasaranga was dismissed by Haris Rauf after scoring 36 runs off 21 balls with 5 fours & a six.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa however, remained unbeaten on 71 runs off 45 balls with 6 fours & 3 sixes. For Pakistan, Haris Rauf was the star with the ball as he picked up 3 wickets. Naseem Shah, Shabad Khan and Iftikhar Ahmed managed 1 wicket each.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Babar Azam won the toss & opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the final of Asia Cup 2022. This match was played at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. 

Brief Score:

• Sri Lanka - 170/6 (Rajapaksa - 71*(45), Rauf - 3/29)
• Pakistan - 147/10 (Rizwan - 55(49), Madushan - 4/34)