“Ab jake aaya mere bechain dil ko karar”-Twitter explodes with congratulations as Sri Lanka crowned Asia Cup CHAMPIONS for the 6th time by thrashing Pakistan
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Sri Lanka vs Pakistan
Certainly, the cricket fraternity had expected to watch the usual India versus Pakistan clash in the final of Asia Cup 2022 as they are the strongest team in the continent but this is a game of momentum and Sri Lanka checked all boxes to ensure their sixth title.
When Pakistan’s pacers had sent half of the players to the dressing room, they had not expected Bhanuka Rajapaksa shine like a diamond under pressure. His knock of a 45-ball 71 runs (including six fours and three sixes) ensured the Lankans put up a competitive 170/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Not to forget Wanindu Hasaranga‘s crucial 21-ball 36 runs too which he scored by smashing five fours and a six to keep the Lankan’s innings moving towards a good score along with a stand with Rajapaksa.
When Pakistan walked out to chase, they faced the wrath of Hasaranga and young pacer Pramod Madushan. Madushan first stunned Pakistan captain Babar Azam (5 off 6), then sent back the dangerous Fakhar Zaman on golden duck on the very next ball.
Opener Mohammad Rizwan, on the other hand, glued to the crease when Pakistan kept losing wickets from the other end. Rizwan and his team might look at this slow knock of his as one of the reasons behind Pakistan’s failure.
Iftikar Ahmed departed after his knock of 32 runs off 31 balls and Pakistan’s middle-order, a concern for the team, could add only some single-digit runs to the chase. Pakistan had a lot of runs to score and few wickets had left. Lankans knew this was their match as they had all stood up to finally run rapturously on the ground to celebrate.
While Hasaranga picked up three crucial wickets in an over, Madushan (4/34) stupefied the top-order and did the rest of the job not to forget Chamika Karunaratne’s two and Maheesh Theekshana’s one wicket. These bowlers and a display of world-class fielding were the reasons why Sri Lanka defended 171 runs and lifted the Asia Cup 2022 title.
Check how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s sixth Asia Cup victory
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Gouri Das
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