Underdogs Sri Lanka teach Babar Azam's Pakistan a lesson in Asia Cup 2022 final with 23-run win
It turned out to be a perfect underdog story.
It turned out to be a perfect underdog story. Firstly, they could not host the event due to financial problems in the country. Secondly, their campaign got off to a horrible start after the huge loss to Afghanistan. But, Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka showed real character to come back into the tournament and beat Pakistan in the final of Asia Cup 2022 by 23 runs to lift the trophy.
It was not just Dasun Shanaka who led an inexperienced Sri Lanka to glory. It was a redemption of sorts for Chris Silverwood who is behind Sri Lanka’s fairytale turnaround. Just few months before Silverwood was sacked as England’s coach and replaced by Brendon McCullum.
Babar, Fakhar fail again
The runchase got off to a decent star as Dilshan Madushanka leaked few runs via extras in the first over. However, he came back well. Rizwan and Babar Azam struggled to get boundaries. In the fourth over, Shanaka introduced Pramod Madushan who got the wicket of Babar followed by Fakhar Zaman for a golden duck. In the powerplay overs, Pakistan managed 37/2 as Mohammad Rizwan struggled to get going.
Middle-order crumbles
The struggle continued in the middle overs as well. In the 12th over, Iftikhar accelerated and hit Wanindu Hasaranga for a four and a six. But he could not carry on and got out to Madushan in the 14th over.
As required run rate kept climbing up, Sri Lankan middle-order crumbled and made it a one-sided contest. In the 16th over Mohammad Nawaz got out. Hasaranga returned for the final over and got the wicket of Rizwan who scored 55 runs from 49 deliveries. Hasaranga got the wickets of Asif Ali and Khushdil Shah in the same over to end Pakistan's hopes of winning the game.
Comprehensive win
In the 18th over, Maheesh Theekshana got the wicket of Shadab Khan. In the penultimate over, Naseem Shah hit a four but got bowled by Madushan off the next delivery. In the final over, tailenders Rauf and Mohammad Hasnain hit one six each before Karunaratne disturbed the timber off the final ball. Pakistan got all out for 147, losing the match by a big margin of 23 runs.
Pakistan pacers strike
Earlier, Babar won the toss and opted to field first. Sri Lankan top-order batters could not utilise the powerplay overs well as new ball bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf got the wickets of openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis respectively. Rauf got another wicket as Danushka Gunathilaka was beaten by his blinding pace. At the end of fielding restrictions, Sri Lanka had 42/3 on the board.
Middle-order collapse
Dhananjaya got a few crucial boundaries in the powerplay overs but Babar introduced Iftikhar and it worked in their favour. Dhanajaya got out for a 21-ball 28. Skipper Shanaka could not do much either and got out to Shadab Khan for a single-digit score. Sri Lanka were reduced to 58/5 in 8.5 overs.
Rajapaksa, Hasaranga fightback
Sri Lanka were struggling having lost half of their side before the halfway mark in the innings. The sixth-wicket partnership first steadied the ship and then built momentum for the slog overs. Hasaranga contributed with a 21-ball 36 including five fours and one six. He shared a 58-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
In the slog overs, Rajapaksa changed gears and had luck on his side as well. Shadab dropped two catches and Rajapaksa remained unbeaten for 71 off 45 deliveries including six fours and three sixes. On the other hand, Karunaratne scored run-a-ball 14. Sri Lanka posted a challenging total of 170/6.
