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- As Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs, Pramod Madushan and Wanindu Hasaranga shared seven wickets between them.
- Babar Azam, who had won the toss at the beginning of the game, instructed Sri Lanka to bat first.
- Rajapaksa scored an unbroken 71 to assist Sri Lanka reach 170-6 in the first innings despite the top order’s collapse.
Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 23 runs in the Asia Cup final on Sunday, becoming the tournament’s sixth champion thanks to Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s explosive batting and Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-around ability.
In order to help Sri Lanka recover from a top order collapse and reach 170-6 at the Dubai International Stadium, Rajapaksa smashed an unbeaten 71. When they returned, Pramod Madushan had a career-high 4-34 and Hasaranga had taken three wickets in one over, bowling out Pakistan for 147 in exactly 20 overs.When Sri Lanka was given the opportunity to bat, their top order quickly withered, leaving them at 58-5 in the ninth over.
With his third legal delivery of the day, Naseem Shah overcame an early wide by uprooting Kusal Mendis’ off-stump.
Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka were both out in consecutive overs by Haris Rauf, and Dhananjaya de Silva’s 28-run knock was ended by Iftikhar Ahmed’s brilliant return catch.
At the midway point of their innings, with Sri Lanka 67-5, Hasaranga (36) and Rajapaksa formed their most successful combination, scoring 58 runs off of just 36 balls.
Hasaranga was removed by Rauf (3-29) but Rajapaksa was still unbeaten after a fiery innings that featured three sixes and six fours.
His 45-ball blitz played a significant role in Sri Lanka’s 103 runs from the final 10 overs.
Madushan shocked Pakistan by grabbing two wickets in two deliveries after they had left.
Babar Azam was caught at short fine leg, and Fakhar Zaman swung the next ball onto his stumps.
Madushan shocked Pakistan by grabbing two wickets in two deliveries after they had left.
Babar Azam was caught at short fine leg, and Fakhar Zaman swung the next ball onto his stumps.
The triumph would taste even better for Sri Lanka, which, despite maintaining the title of hosts, was unable to organize the tournament at home due to a political and economic turmoil on the island.
When the dangerous Rizwan, Asif Ali, and Khushdil Shah were all bowled out by Hasaranga in the same over, Pakistan’s chase was severely ruined.
Even though they retained the title of hosts, Sri Lanka would enjoy the triumph even more because they were unable to hold the event at home due to a political and economic crisis there.
